A historic warehouse in residential zoning in Newtown, this building was once the popular ‘Henninges Bakery’, dating back to the 1860s.

On 292sqm of land, it’s being sold as a potential home in Residential R1 zoning. Recently approved to convert to a residence, it has spent the past 30 years as an antique/upholstery site.

Rare for a warehouse, a walled outdoor space is dotted with established trees and greenery, and an upper deck overlooks the courtyard below. With a Hennings Lane address, the top floor’s wall of windows faces the tree canopy along Watkin Street.

Throughout the building, the exposed steel girders and timber beams have been preserved. A sky-lit roof sends plenty of natural light into the interiors.

Mostly original rooms are dotted with the original french doors/barn doors, as well as polished timber and white painted floorboards. In some sections, the bricks are still charred black where the old ovens once burned.

The former bakery’s address was 105 Wilson Street and was originally constructed in two phases by Frederick Henry Henninges (1858 – 1930). It had elaborate Victorian filigree balconies and signage promoting ‘The Popular Baker’.

The business operated in two sections with kneading, ploughing and steaming upstairs, and the dough being sent downstairs via a chute to the baking ovens. In peak production times, the space was responsible for 5000 loaves of bread per day.

In a nod of modern livability for tenants or new owners, newer kitchen and adjoining bathroom on the ground floor adds flexibility.

But for now, it’s hard to see past those old bones.