Auction Watch: Griffith and Forrest properties among high-end home sales

A Griffith home reminiscent of the flying time machine on Doctor Who and an architectural gem in Forrest were among a string of successful auctions in Canberra on Saturday.

A large crowd braved a chilly winter’s morning to watch the sale of a four-bedroom house at 47 Frome Street.

Like the Doctor’s TARDIS, the Griffith property’s blue facade hides spacious, contemporary interiors, including an open-plan kitchen and living area that flows onto an entertaining deck.

It was about minus 1 degree celsius when the auction began with a strong opening bid of $1.5 million. 

Two of the five registered parties tussled for property, which sits on a 647-square-metre block near the Griffith shops.

The bidding jumped between the two groups until a pause at the $1.58 million-mark, when the property was declared on the market.

The underbidders threw in an extra $10,000, before the opening bidder snapped up the home for $1.6 million.

Beyond the cottage facade is a spacious, contemporary home. Photo: Supplied

The sale contributed to a solid ACT clearance rate of 72 per cent off 29 reported auctions, according to Domain Group data. 

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Selling agent Kaylene King of LJ Hooker Canberra City, said the successful buyers were from Canberra’s inner north and were looking for a lower-maintenance lifestyle. 

She said the distinct property had attracted close to 100 groups through its doors in the lead up to Saturday’s auction.

“The interest was fabulous – there was lots of curiosity too given it only sold 18 months ago,” she said.

Ms King said many prospective buyers were drawn to the property’s blend of a heritage-style cottage at the front and the more contemporary extension at the back.

The Griffith house wasn’t the only inner south property snapped up under the hammer.

A grand residence at 5 Moresby Street in Forrest was also hotly-contested. 

5 Moresby Street, Forrest. Photo: IAIN MACFARLANE

Selling agent Mario Sanfrancesco, of Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Manuka, said the somewhat drawn-out auction with some “extremely competitive bidding” resulted in a $4.22 million sale.

Ms King said there was still hot demand for high-end homes in the nation’s capital.

“The market is still buoyant and it’s really positive for those looking to buy quality property,” she said. 

“I don’t think we can get enough of it at the moment and that competition certainly seems to be there in the popular areas. 

“When you’ve got a beautiful product that is quite unique, the supply is low and that demand obviously then becomes a little bit higher.”

See the full list of ACT auction results here.