The sale price was $1000 (plus GST), but the Whitestone Civic Trust has imposed a condition Mr Paterson spends a minimum of $100,000 (plus GST), excluding labour, on the building in maintenance and restoration over the next 18 months.
The 0.3234ha property in Humber St with the historic George Troup-designed wooden railway station, built in 1900, an old wooden cottage building to the north and more modern concrete block garage to the south has a 2015 rateable value of $210,000.
Mr Paterson yesterday said he did not want to comment at this stage on the sale or his plans for the building.
Trust chairman Peter Garvan said the trust was excited Mr Paterson was the buyer, with his track record in Oamaru as an artist, designer and involvement creating Steampunk and other themed public sculptures and buildings.
This is the second sale of the property by the trust since it put it on the market in May last year as surplus to its requirements.
It received a conditional offer from an unnamed Auckland buyer, which went unconditional in June but the deal was not settled on the settlement date in July and the sale fell through.
Mr Garvan said settlement date for the sale to Mr Paterson would be seven days after a heritage covenant covering the property was registered with Heritage NZ.
The heritage covenant would ban demolition of any of the railway station and other two buildings, ensure the exterior of the building was maintained and its appearance was retained as the Oamaru Railway Station and maintain and allow public access to the foyer area.
Another covenant condition was all memorabilia, such as photographs, cases and the railway clock, would remain in the ownership of the trust but be available for Mr Paterson's use without any cost.
''What we have tried to do is put the heritage interests firmly first and not sell it just to get the highest price. We have fully recognised the heritage importance of the building and the trust's and community's desire to have the building enhanced and brought to life,'' Mr Garvan said.
