The old Bega Ambulance Station, on the corner of Canning and Bega St, was sold at auction on Friday, December 2, to Leon and Jane McIntosh of Bathurst.

Ms McIntosh is a Hergenhan and said she planned to bring her growing family back to Bega and use the old building as their home.

Her winning bid after a quick back-and-forth between four separate prospective buyers was $375,000 –above the reserve price, but much lower than what several people in attendance said they expected.

“We just love Bega and will probably retire here,” Ms McIntosh said after being confirmed as the winning bidder on Friday morning.

“It’s a beautiful building. I’m a little shocked though that it didn’t go for more.”

The ambulance station was built in 1954 and served the town until the start of 2015 when paramedics moved into brand new premises at the South East Regional Hospital development.

It is zoned for mixed business, so there’s potential for the McIntosh family to look at commercial options along with the upstairs residence, but Ms McIntosh said they had no plans along those lines yet.

LJ Hooker Bega auctioned the building on behalf of Health Administration Corporation c/o Government Property NSW.

Auctioneer Paul Griffin led proceedings opening the bidding at $200,000.

He highlighted it was a rare chance to own a building of this type and a “golden opportunity” with development in Bega and surrounds growing in the last two years.

That the growth is due to the construction of the $187million South East Regional Hospital seemed particularly apt for the large crowd of intrigued onlookers standing in the ambulance bay of the old station.

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