A 166-year-old cottage in Yarraville sells at auction for $1 million

47 Castlemaine Street, Yarraville
Sold $998,000
Agency Biggin & Scott
Price range $850,000-plus

More than 160 years before kale became cool, this bluestone cottage in the now hipster enclave of Yarraville was built. On Saturday, a buyer — who had inspected it for the first time just 15 minutes before the start of the auction — laid down almost a $1 million. The property has traded only twice since the 1970s, when it was bought for just $24,000. The vendor paid $84,500 for it in the mid-80s, according to Domain Group data. Built in about 1850, the three bedroom plus-backyard study home, near the iconic Sun Theatre and village shops and cafes, was gently renovated in the 80s but has retained many original features, from leadlight windows to the verandah and exposed brickwork in the living room. Auctioneer Rita Galati opened with a vendor bid of $850,000 and asked for $10,000 rises. Two bidders threw their hats in the ring, with the hammer falling at $998,000. Emily Power

32 Troon Crescent, Sunshine North
Sold $1.05 million
Agent Douglas Kay
Price range $900,000-$1 million

This two-storey, five-bedroom house set a residential record of $1.05 million for Sunshine North. It was a battle between two families, both from the western suburbs, and it took just a dozen bids of mainly $10,000s and $5000 increments to land the property on the market. When auctioneer Douglas Kay returned from his second trip inside to consult the vendors, he announced the home was “selling” and shortly after brought the hammer down. A woman celebrated her win with a fist pump. The previous Sunshine North record of $1 million was achieved in May. Agent Peter Kay said $1 million was the new benchmark for family-sized houses in prime pockets of the suburb. Christina Zhou

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222 Barkly Street, Brunswick
Passed in $2,375,000
Agent Jellis Craig
Price range $2.2 million-plus

Clapping usually matches a sale at the end of the auction, but for whatever reason, the crowd of 50 clapped when this one was passed in. There were only two contenders, with one man offering $2 million to start. Another man helped push the house, which is steeped in Brunswick brick-making history, up to $2,375,000, but after consulting the vendors, auctioneer Greg Cusack returned to the pretty garden to announce it wasn’t on the market. The original man was no longer bidding, and with no other competition the five-bedroom terrace passed in to those claps. Jayne D’Arcy

49 Park Street, Abbotsford
Sold $1,315,000
Agent Marshall White
Price range $1.1 million-plus

This auction peaked in its final minutes, when not one, but two, last-minute would-be buyers added to the four already in the mix. Yes, six people wanted in on this single fronted two-bedroom terrace with a study, including buyers’ advocate Cate Bakos, who was in at the start and only just missed out at the finish. Auctioneer Doug McLauchlan didn’t fuss around searching for an opening bid — he made a vendor bud of $1 million straight away. Bakos offered $1.02 million and the heat was on. She waited until bidding hit $1.18 million before offering more, but when the two late entrants came in, it was game over. The winner bought the Victorian for $1,315,000, which is $140,000 over its reserve. Jayne D’Arcy

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30 Barkly Avenue, Armadale
Sold $2,641,000
Agent Jellis Craig
Price range $2.25 million-$2.5 million

All too often the “come in high and knock ’em out” approach to bidding fails to have the desired effect. That certainly was the case for this appealing period home. The auction was declared open and two seconds later a buyers’ advocate called out “$2.6 million” — significantly above the quote range. Auctioneer Andrew McCann may have described the tree-lined location as “arguably Armadale’s best street” but he had to work hard to find the next bid. Eventually it came from a multi-generation family group who pitched in $2.61 million. The advocate made one further offer but dropped out when a third party, a couple in their late-30s, entered the ring. The four-bedroom house soon hit an “on the market” price of $2,632,500. After a few more bids, it sold to the couple for $2,641,000.
Chris Tolhurst

27 Studley Avenue,
Kew
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Sold
Undisclosed

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Agent
Sotheby’s

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Price range $2.8 million-plus

This luxury home in a prestige, heritage protected pocket of Kew captures views over the landmark Raheen, the city and parkland, agent Greg Herman said during the campaign. The five bedroom residence has a leafy outlook, wood burning fireplace, studio, large terrace and the potential to renovate, as many neighbours have done to striking effect (some of the best homes in Melbourne are in this patch). The auction started with a vendor bid of $2.8 million, and auctioneer Greg Sinclair was answered with a one and only $20,000 jump. The crowd played its cards close, and the house passed in. It later sold by negotiation. Studley Avenue is one of a cluster of triple-A streets which run between the Yarra River and Studley Park, and Princess Street. The Pratt estate Raheen is a couple of minutes up the road. 
Emily Power

64 St Georges Road, Elsternwick


Sold $2.58 million


Agent Buxton


Price range $2.4 million-$2.6 million

Offering single level accommodation and four bedrooms, this smartly renovated Edwardian property ticked boxes aplenty for both downsizers and upgrading families. Auctioneer Halli Moore set some hard and fast ground rules. This was a “non-referral” auction, he said, which meant there would no half-time break to get the vendors to lower their reserve. The sale kicked off on a $2.3 million vendor bid and became a two horse race. A man in his 30s was the first to bid, then a grey-haired man sporting a green fedora hat stepped up. After a slow bidding duel in $10,000 and $20,000 increments, Mr Fedora and his wife — downsizers from Sydney — won out at $2.58 million. The house was on the market at $2.51 million.
Chris Tolhurst

20 Shoobra Road, Elsternwick


Sold $2,806,000


Agency Biggin & Scott


Price range $2.2 million-plus

This impeccable period home was a Domain cover property earlier this month. Eight bidders fell in love with the elegantly renovated family address, and had chequebooks drawn at the auction. The opening bid for the corner block of 669 square metres was $2 million. It sold for more than $400,00 over reserve, in a contest which agent Bill Stavrakis described was one of the strongest auctions he’d seen “in a long time”. The four bedroom, two-storey house had a modern extension on the ground floor, spilling to an outdoor entertaining area with a solar-heated pool, lawn and deck.
Emily Power