The landmark Swan Street building is set to go under the hammer on April 30 and is already creating quite a deal of interest from keen punters.

The boarded up building, which sustained significant damage in last year’s April super storm, was placed on the market earlier this year for $859,000 but failed to sell.

It opened as The Royal Hotel in 1876 and catered for shipping, railway workers and passengers arriving at the local wharves and station.

Morpeth’s role as one of the most important river ports in NSW began in the 1820s. In 1867 there were 11 hotels operating in the village.

Mr Ransom said the building requires structural and refurbishment work.

It has eight bedrooms and three bathrooms, a commercial kitchen, dining room, lounge, bar and bar facilities and complete hotel licences.

Mr Ransom said the premises would make a great family home, hotel and accommodation, bar and restaurant, bed and breakfast or a conference facility.

“The building has created a great deal of interest both far and wide with a lot of inquiry coming from Sydney investors,” Mr Ransom said.

He said strong inquiry was also coming from local investors including Maitland and Newcastle.

“The place really needs some work and so it will be sold accordingly,” Mr Ransom said.

“Because of the nature of the property and its condition I really have no idea what it will go for on the day of the auction.

“The owners are willing to meet he market and feel it would be better for the new owner to carry out any repairs and refurbishment to the property so they can leave their own mark on the premises,” he said.

Engineers declared the property unsafe in May last year.

The force of water during the April 2015 storm undermined part of the structure and the building had been moved substantially.

At one stage the water level was nearly a metre high at the inn’s front door.

All ground floor rooms were flooded leaving water within the walls.

The auction will be held on Saturday, April 30 at East Maitland Bowling Club.