Toodyay’s historic Stirling House listed from $1.7 million
In a town called Toodyay, a stylish entrance sets the scene for a 67-seat speakeasy bringing a little Roaring Twenties glamour to Western Australia.
Now, heritage-listed Stirling House at 122b Stirling Terrace is seeking offers from $1,699,950, combining leased shops and apartments with two owner-operated hospitality venues and land with brewery potential.
Brimming with 19th-century convict architecture and a colonial-era streetscape, riverside Toodyay – pronounced “Too-jay” – is located in the picturesque Avon Valley, about 85 kilometres north-east of Perth, or roughly an 80-minute drive.
The mixed-use hub of Stirling House sits in the centre of the well-known tourism town.
Seven leasable spaces and brewery potential
The 1424-square-metre property has a 300-square-metre floor area and six on-site parking spaces. About 1000 square metres of fenced vacant rear land is marketed as potentially suitable for a brewery, distillery or townhouses, subject to shire approval.
Five of its seven leasable spaces have long-term leases in place: two retail shops, an office with cellar space, and two apartments, each with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The listing advertises an annual return of 6 per cent.
The remaining spaces house the owner-operated Chieftain Music Club and French-inspired Cafe Clair’s, which offer plenty of upside as they only operate part-time.
Selling agent Zaia Joudo, of Joudo Realty Group, says the property’s appeal lies in the combination of existing income and untapped potential.
Scope to expand music club and cafe
Owners Rory and Fiona Davin, who are approaching retirement, currently operate live gigs at The Chieftain once a month and open Cafe Clair’s three days a week.
Joudo says The Chieftain’s music program is already booked well into next year despite operating only monthly.
Many guests plan overnight stays around performances at The Chieftain, he says, while groups travel from Perth and Midland specifically to visit Café Clair’s.
Joudo believes a new owner could significantly expand the operation through additional performances, extended cafe trading hours or complementary ventures on the vacant land.
He believes the property could suit a young family, with the apartments offering a potential live-and-work opportunity, subject to existing tenancies.
“They’ve got two residential units behind it that people live in, so they could live in town and work there,” he says.
“It’s not far from the city, it’s not far from Midland. It’s a beautiful drive with some great landscapes … it’s awesome.”
Inside heritage-listed Stirling House
The building’s social history stretches back more than a century: Stirling House was built in 1908 as club rooms for the Toodyay Gentlemen’s Club which ran until 1975, but has found its modern purpose hosting live music events featuring renowned international and local artists.
The Chieftain Music Club is a licensed venue inspired by the hidden bars of the 1920s, which the listing describes as “a time capsule, a sanctuary of charm, and an investment in sensory experience”.
The Davins opened today’s music club in mid-2024 and the café after earlier retail and restaurant tenancies ended, having held the property long-term.
An Insta-worthy doorman and themed dress add to the atmosphere, where visitors enjoy crystal glassware, candlelit tables dressed in black, vintage instruments and worn-in plush furniture. The chandeliers extend even to the washrooms.
The licensed, 40-person Cafe Clair’s has a French-inspired feel, combining fireside seating with garden dining. Its vegetarian menu includes gluten-free options, while monthly pop-up dinners feature changing, globally inspired menus.
To help an incoming buyer continue the businesses, the owners are offering to work alongside them for three months at an agreed fee.
“So we’re looking for that person who can see that and carry it on,” Joudo says.
