Canberra auctions: Transformed ex-government house in Rivett sells for $995,000

A transformed ex-government house in Rivett sold under the hammer on Saturday for $995,000 when two parties bid back and forth until the house was “on the market”. 

The four-bedroom residence at 21 Pavonia Street sits on 829 square metres of land and features internal and external renovations that are “really, really beautiful”, according to selling agent Josh Wilson of Luton Properties Weston Creek and Molonglo Valley. 

“It is an unusual house; a different style on the outside, but on the inside, it’s really jaw-dropping,” he said. 

The sale opened with an $845,000 bid, countered by a second bidder who took the price to $900,000. 

The two registered bidders bounced back and forth for seven bids, each increasing their offers in increments of $10,000 until $970,000 was reached, and the second bidder stepped back. 

Auctioneer Tim Burke then discussed the price with the owners, and the highest bidder increased the final bid to $995,000 to push the property onto the market. 

Wilson said Saturday’s auction and the campaign leading up to it were outstanding achievements in the current market.

“We had really good numbers through the home [during the campaign], and it was really good to see so many buyers looking at the property,” Wilson said. 

“We had 54 inspections, which we were really happy with. That’s a good and solid amount of people with all that is going on at the moment.

“I have to say thanks to the owners because they really helped us out by having the home presented so beautifully today.”

The distinctiveness of the property is what really made it popular among potential buyers, Wilson added. 

“The owners made the home into an A-frame, which made it different to the houses surrounding it in this area,” he said. 

“The master bedroom is upstairs, open to the living area, with a really nice high ceiling and a really lovely open feel.

“I am so happy for the buyer; she bought a lovely home for her family and herself.” 

Elsewhere, another four-bedroom house at 186 Majura Avenue, Ainslie, sold at auction on Saturday for $1.776 million, said selling agent Kathy Komar of LJ Hooker Belconnen. 

Despite the relaxed atmosphere, around 60 bids took the auction to its eventual sale price.

“The buyers came in with a mission, quite clearly,” Komar said. 

“We had a large number of spectators, and the campaign numbers were good, with about 60 inspections from both neighbours and interested parties.

“We went through one and a half bidding sheets, and I am very happy with the result.”

The auction had eight registered bidders, with five actively participating throughout the auction. 

Despite what she considered a high level of interest in both the campaign and the auction, Komar said it was hard to gauge exactly what auctions would look like in the current market. 

“I don’t try to predict it because no one can really know at the moment,” she said.

“I communicated with the seller to make sure they knew exactly what was going on in the Canberra market, and the buyers are also very aware of it too.

“I am a big believer in buyer communication, and we are all very happy with the outcome we got today as a result.”