Sale and subdivision for Tuggeranong's historic Rose Cottage

The historic Rose Cottage estate in Canberra could be joined by a service station and a fast food outlet.

The 190-year old property at the Monaro Highway and Isabella Drive intersection in Tuggeranong is on the market and could fetch more than $1 million.

A development application has been submitted for the subdivision of the almost three-hectare site into three parcels of land.

It’s the first step in a significant redevelopment aimed at drawing more people to the site, including tourists travelling to the Snowy Mountains.

The largest slice of land will encompass the existing buildings including the Old Rose Inn, Krack’d Peppa cafe, Mary’s Bar, the Glasshouse function room and the landscaped beer garden and outdoor function areas.

A smaller slice of land to the west, facing Isabella Drive, is set to house a service station which could encompass a fast food outlet. The zoning also allows for hotel accommodation.

A third sliver of land will cover the service road running between the two blocks. 

The sale of the site will not change the day-to-day running of Rose Cottage, which is heritage listed and leased by the owners of the business.

The older, smaller of the two cottages, now the cafe, is believed to have been built between the late 1860s and early 1870s. The second cottage, now Mary’s Bar, was built around 1878. 

Capital Crown Leasing director Deborah Barnes said maintaining the area’s heritage and character was paramount however, there was a lot of vacant land that could be developed.

She said there had been strong interest in a service station and fast food outlet on the second, smaller block.

“It’s an excellent site,” she said. “It’s a gateway to the Tuggeranong Valley from the Monaro Highway.”

“The objective of all this is to maintain the rural aspect of the heritage-listed buildings that are there.”

Ms Barnes said the successful purchaser would not be locked into pursuing the subdivision however, financial viability was a key consideration behind the planned changes.

“It takes dollars to keep these places going,” she said.

Mark and Jenny Maszaro​ have owned the Rose Cottage business for seven years with a long-term lease for the heritage estate. 

Mr Maszaro said it would be business as usual despite the sale or possible subdivision.

“We will continue to run Rose Cottage bar and bistro regardless of the outcome,” he said.

“The remaining, area as far as development goes, had been unattended for a number of years.

“Anything on the other side of the driveway has nothing to do with me at this stage. It won’t and can’t impact on the heritage-listed buildings which are here.”

Mr Maszaro said he did not know what would be built on the adjoining block however, any appropriate development that brought more people to the area would only be a good thing for his business.

According to the development application, the site’s existing car park will remain in the same section as the existing buildings and will serve as a “buffer zone” between the heritage area and any new development.

Ms Barnes said existing trees around the Rose Cottage buildings would screen the area from any further development nearby.

A previous development application to subdivide the land and vary the lease to permit the new uses was rejected in 2012.

The latest application is being considered, with additional information addressing the issues raised in the original notice of decision.

Ms Barnes said a number of conditions needed to be met by October before the subdivision could be approved.

Luton Properties Tuggeranong director and selling agent Christine Bassingthwaighte​ said there had been strong interest in the sale, as well as curiosity.

“It’s not very often something like that comes on the market,” she said. “It’s an ideal opportunity for development.”

Ms Bassingthwaighte said it was likely a service centre combining a service station and fast food outlet would be built, which would be convenient for passersby.

“When you’re coming through from Sydney, there are not many service stations on that side of the road,” she said.

“Obviously we’ve got a lot of traffic coming down the Monaro Highway [and] a huge amount of traffic heading to the snow.”

The vendor is Satin Bowerbird Pty Ltd, owned by Robert Piagno.

Mr Piagno did not wish to comment on the sale.