Sold $2.3 million Agent Jellis Craig Price range $2 million+
Former Hawthorn Football Club premiership player Brad Sewell scored a property goal – but only just – selling his renovated Armadale family home for bang on reserve. After a slow start, auctioneer John Morrisby opened with a $2 million vendor bid – which drew no bites and was referred. The crowd was warmer when Mr Morrisby returned – one would-be buyer offered $2.05 million. Two bidders in the crowd of about 40 then drove the value up in mostly $25,000 rises. The four-bedroom Victorian settled at $2.3 million to the opening bidder. Sewell played 12 seasons with the Hawks and is now a Network Seven commentator. Marc Pallisco
Sold $1.44 million Agent Nelson Alexander Price range $1.15 million-$1.25 million
This two-bedroom balcony terrace is valued at just one third of number 191 across the road that sold for $3.58 million last year but there were no takers for this entry-level opportunity into Gore Street when auctioneer Arch Staver asked for an opening bid. He told the crowd he couldn’t sell it at $1.1 million, so he made that figure his vendor bid. A would-be buyer offered a $10,000 rise and the bidding jumped in mostly $10,000s until it reached its on-the-market price of $1.26 million. Four bidders drove the price to a sale at $1.44 million – a big result for a house on less than 100 square metres. Christina Zhou
10/628 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Sold $796,000 Agent Buxton Price range $750,000-$800,000
The top-floor apartment is conveniently positioned near Albert Park Lake and St Kilda Road trams. It looked to be a quick auction when only one bidder responded to auctioneer Arthur Apostoleros’ calls for offers a few minutes into the auction. The man’s $680,000 offer was trumped by a $700,000 vendor bid, and his attempt at a $5000 rise was repeatedly rejected. It was only after Mr Apostoleros’ trip inside that two other participants showed their hand – pushing the price rapidly past the $786,000 “selling” price. A woman jumped in for a last minute duel with the original bidder, who won the keys. Christina Zhou
Passed in $1.25 million Agent Jellis Craig Price range $1.3 million+
Park Road is a family-oriented, tree-lined street near Wattle Park, and it took auctioneer Andrew Wilkie only seconds to land a $1.2 million initial bid from one man. But the auction then became a snail-paced affair. Up for grabs was a single-level 1930s duplex – not every buyer’s preferred style of real estate – but a contemporary extension has created space for four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large living area. There’s also a thriving northern rear garden. Even so, the 70-strong crowd had to wait several minutes for a second bidder to offer $1.25 million. The property was passed in for this amount and negotiations are continuing with several parties. Chris Tolhurst
Sold $965,000 Agent Village Price range $775,000+
Couples thinking they could snap up this family-friendly renovated three-bedroom Calbung for $775,000 were, quite frankly, dreaming. With six parties bidding there was no likelihood of a bargain. Auctioneer Adam Welling received an opening offer of $750,000 but an $800,000 trump bid from a couple turned things serious. The couple proceeded to outbid all of those who tried to buy it, including a man on a phone at the end who made a few $500 rises before bowing out. Even then the crowd was left wondering who else might pop out of the woodwork and bid. It sold to the couple for $965,000. Jayne Darcy
Sold $4,925,000 Agent Marshall White/ Buxton Price range $4.7 million+
When buyers want to purchase what’s in the house as well, it’s usually for the artwork and furniture. Here it would be for the Head of the River oars, books on the history of the MCC and other dated Melburnian memorabilia. Inside, the house isn’t in original 1874 condition and it’s a bit of a maze of old and new. Two men made auctioneer David Hart work hard to get a few genuine bids. He made two vendor bids at $4.5 million and $4.6 million and a couple of offers brought the price to $4.71 million. It was passed in and sold after for $4,925,000. Jayne Darcy
Sold $1,088,000 Agent Biggin & Scott Price range $1 million-$1.1 million
The buyer who made the first bid for this Richmond terrace eventually walked away with the keys – a familiar occurrence at auctions this year, agents say. An opening bid of $900,000 was met with a long silence and referred. When auctioneer Russell Cambridge re-started the contest, a handful of new prospective buyers found the confidence to compete – the value ballooning to $1,088,000 within minutes. However, after referring this bid, then declaring to the 50-strong crowd that the property was on the market – no more offers were received. The two-bedroom Victorian sold to a young man. Marc Pallisco