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    Set on a 4,019sqm block in the heart of the CBD, the 24-bedroom, seven-bathroom landmark estate at 11 Victoria Street, Grafton is set to go under the hammer on Wednesday, 30 September at the Grafton District Services Club. Likely change to auction time/date - That being on-site Saturday 3rd October

    The property is being marketed by Ray White TKG managing director Jake Kroehnert who said the convent is not just a “massive piece of real estate”.

    “It's a landmark piece of the Clarence Valley's history,” Mr Kroehnert said.

    “Whether a buyer wants to create a premier boutique hotel, establish a wellness retreat, convert it into luxury apartments, or run a commercial venture, it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape Grafton's next icon.”

    With the organisation transitioning the site to new hands, the sprawling riverside estate offers unprecedented scale and adaptability.

    The main building unfolds across three climate-controlled levels equipped with a lift, ramps, and wide hallways for full accessibility.

    The entry level features offices, a full commercial kitchen, and multiple amenities.

    The middle floor houses additional workspace, five bathrooms, five kitchens, and multiple sunrooms capturing wide river views. The top floor serves as a self-contained residence complete with a lounge, kitchen, and two bedrooms.

    Beyond the main structure, there is a four-bay brick garage, a 51-panel solar system, and a central courtyard.

    A separate modern second dwelling - currently configured as a function center - comes with polished concrete floors, a kitchenette, a projector, and floor-to-ceiling tinted glass.

    MacKillop Family Services General Manager Property and Fleet Stephen Key said The Sisters of Mercy came to Grafton in 1884 at the invitation of Bishop Elzear Torreggiani, the second Bishop of Armidale.

    Having known the Sisters in England, Bishop Torreggiani sought to establish a Mercy presence in Grafton to support the growing educational, pastoral and charitable needs of the region. In 1883 he approached the Sisters of Mercy in Bermondsey, England, requesting that a community be established in Grafton, and the request was accepted.

    A group of eight Sisters travelled from England and arrived in Sydney in January 1884 before continuing by coastal vessel to Grafton. Their arrival was warmly welcomed by the local Catholic community and broader township. The Sisters initially resided in temporary accommodation while their convent was being completed. The convent, which later became known as St Mary's Convent, was established on a prominent site overlooking the Clarence River and became the centre of Mercy ministry throughout the Clarence Valley.

    From this base, the Sisters of Mercy established schools, supported parish life, provided welfare and charitable services, and became deeply involved in the community. Over the following decades they expanded their work throughout Northern New South Wales, including the establishment of St Joseph's Orphanage at Cowper in 1914, which later evolved into St Joseph's Cowper Children's Homes and ultimately became part of MacKillop Family Services.

    In more recent years, it has functioned as an administrative hub for MacKillop Family Services who provide out-of-home care, homelessness support, and therapeutic programs tailored to promote healing and empowerment.  

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