B’nai B’rith House for sale

AFTER half-a-century of calling it home, B’nai B’rith has listed its iconic Hotham Street headquarters. The landmark Balaclava building is up for sale by tender, with agents expecting a price tag in the range of $4 million.

Iain Messer, chairman of B’nai B’rith Victoria, said while sentimental, the sale marks a new beginning for the organisation.
“We have had the building for nearly 50 years and have gotten to the point where it is not suitable for our organisation anymore,” he told The AJN. “It is a new beginning for the organisation. We have been here for so long.”

Once boasting a member base in the thousands, Messer said today this number is closer to 600. Along with a plan to now relocate to Beth Weizmann, the benevolence group also has ambitions to better promote itself within the community.

“We own the building outright. The plan is that with the proceeds of the sale, to use some to improve and expand the organisation by making ourselves known,” he said. “We will obviously need money to pay rent at Beth Weizmann and for the wages of our staff, but the plan is to also spend money on marketing.”

Located on a large parcel of 1735 square metres, B’nai B’rith House is near the corner of Carlisle Street and includes two function rooms with stages, a reception area, three offices, three boardrooms, a library, a commercial kitchen plus a second kitchen, as well as off-street parking for 17 cars. There is also a two-bedroom apartment on the upper level with a living room, separate kitchen, laundry, bathroom and balcony.

“We and Gross Waddell are very excited to be associated with such a significant sale in our community,” agent Gary Peer said. “The position is second to none, and opportunities like this present themselves very rarely in the marketplace.”

Despite the financial benefits, many within B’nai B’rith are reluctant to bid farewell to the site.

“A lot of our members are emotionally attached to the building. They don’t want to leave. It’s quite traumatic for some who feel as though they’re leaving home,” Messer explained, adding that the decision was by no means made only by those at the top of B’nai B’rith. “Our members were polled and the result was 59 to 41 per cent to move. Based on that vote, council decided to take the steps.”

Tenders for the building close on November 17, after which the offers will be considered. Messer stressed that the property would not be sold if it did not meet agent expectations.

“We’re not just going to give it away,” he said.

DALIA SABLE