Game, set, match: Former squash courts for sale
Once overshadowed by mainstream sports, racquet games are having a moment. From badminton to table tennis (recently spotlighted in the film Marty Supreme), interest is growing – and squash is no exception. With participation on the rise, this Lithgow offering arrives as a timely and potentially lucrative investment.
The former indoor squash court and gym complex is a blank-canvas commercial opportunity, with buyers weighing options ranging from continued squash or fitness use through to childcare, indoor recreation, community or entertainment facilities.
Located at 3–5 Young Street, Lithgow, the substantial property which spans 780 square metres, is listed for sale at $1.3 million, presenting a price point well below metropolitan real estate with Cabmon Property listing agent Peter Seeto describing it as “less than a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney”.
Interest has largely been driven by owner-occupiers seeking to establish a business that serves the community.
“The bulk of the enquiry so far has come from owner-occupiers looking to open a childcare centre, kids’ play facility or something of that nature,” said Seeto.
“The zoning is very flexible and really opens the door to reinvention. We even had a pickleball operator look at it, but the courts were too small.”
Adding to the appeal is a large adjoining parcel of land, which Mr Seeto said could unlock further upside for an imaginative buyer for residential development, subject to approvals.
“There’s an opportunity to do something cool and different next door,” he said. “I’d love to see something that plays homage to the railway behind the site and reflects where Lithgow is heading.”
Positioned around two hours from Sydney on the western edge of the Blue Mountains, Lithgow is undergoing a period of transition as it shifts away from its coal and steelmaking roots toward tourism, lifestyle and residential growth. The region, part of what’s known as the Seven Valleys, is increasingly attracting new residents post-COVID, alongside rising residential and commercial property values.
“Lithgow is regenerating,” Seeto said. “It’s a truly beautiful part of the world, and we’ve seen significant growth across both residential and commercial markets over the past three to four years. It’s often referred to as the number one town driven past as people continue to Bathurst or Orange.”
