Australia's longest-serving landlord? Family sells unit building for the first time since 1936

A Brisbane family is selling an entire New Farm art deco apartment building after an extraordinary eight decades as landlords.

Perched majestically on New Farm’s exclusive Moray Street, “Edgecliffe Court” has been owned by the one family since it was built in 1936 by notable career bookmaker William Danaher.

And while New Farm may look barely recognisable 81 years later, the heritage-listed estate is as beautiful as it ever was, featuring six beautifully preserved units with original timber joinery, high ornate ceilings, faceted bay windows and wide overhanging eaves.

Located across from the city, the Story Bridge and the Brisbane River, the red brick construction is a rare jewel in Brisbane, LJ Hooker New Farm marketing agent Claudia Marchand says.

“It’s so solid and so valuable,” she says.

“Since the listing went live last night, I’ve had so many phone calls; from investors, from people wanting to buy it to hold, to families wanting to convert it to a house…it’s already so popular because these opportunities in Brisbane are once in a lifetime.”

Expected to fetch millions, the property is being sold by “offers invited”, closing Wednesday July 19 at 5pm, unless sold prior.

William’s grandson, Bill Danaher, says he and his four siblings made the difficult decision to let the property go after their father passed away late last year.

“Dad had a strong attachment to the building because it belonged to his father, who died only a few years after it was built,” Mr Danaher says.

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“I suppose for our generation we don’t have the same emotional ties as he did but certainly for Dad he took care of it his whole life. It’s always had a steady tenancy and even back in 1936 when it was built, this was a very affluent street.”

Mr Danaher says the family hopes it goes to someone who will preserve the integrity of the character while updating it.

“I’d love to see it brought into the 21st century and hope that it’s still standing here looking as beautiful in another 100 years,” he says.

Each apartment has two bedrooms, a sunroom, internal laundry, modernised kitchen and bathroom. There is secure car parking for all six apartments and the building has an intercom.

The property is within walking distance of Brunswick Street, cafes, restaurants and the CBD.