The site of a historic Matakana sawmill is for sale with diverse tenants and resource consent to add new artisanal units.

The more than 2.6-hectare freehold landholding sits in a picturesque rural setting just outside fast-growing Matakana village.

Registered as an operating sawmill, the North Auckland site is home to multiple commercial tenancies, used for rural storage, landscaping services, retail sales and manufacturing of timber products, plus a residential tenancy.

Established tenancies generate a combined annual return of $274,110 plus GST (if any).

A vacant office and several vacant yard areas offer new owners the potential to add further income by securing new tenants.

An approved resource consent allows the construction of up to 10 new units for the manufacture and retail of handcrafts such as textiles, wood carving, metalwork, pottery and glass, along with the sale of horticultural and agricultural products, food and beverages. This can operate seven days a week and would be supported by 20 parking spaces.

The freehold land and buildings at The Mill, 362 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana, are being marketed for sale through Chris Blair and Dahnie Burton of Bayleys Warkworth.

The property will be sold by way of a tender closing on Wednesday 16 April, unless it is sold earlier.

Blair said the upcoming sale offered commercial property investors a unique opportunity within minutes of thriving Matakana village and 45 minutes from central Auckland.

“For investors, developers and visionaries, this is more than just a chance to own a piece of local heritage; it’s an investment in the area’s transformation into one of New Zealand’s premier artisanal and visitor destinations.

“The Mill is already a highly regarded local landmark. There’s a golden opportunity for new owners to build on this and add further value by securing new occupiers for vacant tenancies – and, through further development, to firmly establish this site as a destination artisanal market,” Blair said.

The Matakana Valley Road property is zoned Rural Production under the Auckland Unitary Plan, with rights for existing uses. A second resource consent enables the commercial extraction and supply of groundwater.

The approximately 2.66-hectares of freehold land underpins multiple yards plus buildings – including manufacturing warehouses, offices and a residential unit – with a combined floor area of some 530 square metres.

A wide frontage and six entranceways on Matakana Valley Road, a key roadway connecting Matakana, Pakiri and Wellsford, ensure good exposure and ease of access for current and future activities.

Burton said one of the property’s most compelling selling points was its Matakana location.

“This area is well supported year-round by an influx of both national and international visitors as well as a steadily growing population of permanent residents.

“Its appeal as a place to live and visit is driven by an intoxicating mix of boutique shopping, galleries, cafes, restaurants and wine bars plus wider attractions such as wineries, world-class beaches, fishing, golf courses and regional parks.

“Village amenities, including a recently extended FourSquare supermarket and PO box hub, make Matakana a vital service centre for areas such as Pakiri, Whangaripo, Omaha and Point Wells.

“Auckland Council is facilitating rapid growth of the surrounding area as a key Auckland satellite hub. This is expected to boost the population of nearby Warkworth from around 7,000 to 25,000 by 2030. This is fuelling ever-growing demand, investment and business activity which makes this an area with a big future,” Burton said.