This report from two years ago
Hillsong spends $28 million on new digs
HILLSONG Church has paid $28 million for a former RTA site in inner Sydney to build a base for its expanding membership.
The church is expected to settle on the property - in Joynton Ave, Rosebery - within the next fortnight.
“We are awaiting settlement on a property in Rosebery and any future development will exist to serve and benefit the community, and will be done with comprehensive consultation,” Hillsong’s community relations officer Maria Ieroianni said.
Ms Ieroianni said Hillsong had outgrown its Waterloo base.
It was planning on building a larger church nearby to cater for its burgeoning inner-city following, which has been growing by about 15 per cent a year.
Close to 20,000 people attend the Hillsong churches across Sydney each weekend - including its enormous Baulkham Hills headquarters, which boasts a 3500-seat auditorium where Prime Minister John Howard, Treasurer Peter Costello and former New South Wales premier Bob Carr have addressed the crowd.
Figures show that Hillsong reaped $15.3 million in 2004 from donations and salary tithes while merchandise, including books, CDs and DVDs, brought in close to $7 million.
Total church revenue is now more than $50 million while the organisation also attracts donations from businesses, including the Gloria Jeans coffee chain.
However, the church has been embroiled in negative publicity about its growing coffers most recently after the Labor Mayor of Blacktown, Leo Kelly, accused Hillsong of trying to tone down his attacks on the church’s use of public funds.
Restrictions on Hillsong’s church in Young St, Waterloo, have forced it to look for a larger site, Ms Ieroianni said.
“We have seven services a weekend at the Waterloo campus,” she said. “As the congregation has grown we are stretched for space.”
Joshua Charles, managing director of commercial and industrial real estate agency CB Richard Ellis, which negotiated the sale, refused to divulge any details.
A Hillsong spokeswoman said the $28 million figure was “about right” and the RTA confirmed it was selling a site in Rosebery but refused to comment further as negotiations were still in progress.
“The RTA is in the process of disposing of a property at Rosebery which formerly housed a motor registry and a number of support and administrative functions,” a spokesperson said. “As the transaction is due to settle in the middle of June the RTA will not provide commercial details.”
June 04, 2006
Copyright 2006 News Limited. All times AEST (GMT + 10).
