Historic Adelaide mansion complete with creepy cellar hits the market

Watch the cobwebs and don’t wear a suit. That’s the warning that comes with a historic mansion on the market for the first time in over four decades.

Historic charm meets ghoulish garb in the one-of-a-kind Woodforde House, which has a tiny original chapel and dual cellars brimming with creepy mannequins, oversized spiders and bats.

“I’ve never seen a house as fascinating as this in 40 years,” said Anthony Toop, of Toop & Toop Real Estate, of the five-bedroom property at 10 Melory Crescent, Magill.

“The owner’s favourite pastime was crafting Halloween items … she just loved it and it’s why we’ve left them there. It’s pretty cool,” he added.

Look beyond the spooky decor and you will find a two-storey bluestone residence with a wraparound verandah and a pool, sitting on a massive 2618-square-metre block.

“It’s at least two to three times as big as what’s normally available,” Mr Toop said of the property which spans two titles and backs onto a council reserve. “It offered an incredible childhood [for the owner’s children], it was just like living in the country.”

“It’s [also] got a viewing deck on the roof. The guy who built it was a leather dealer. A lot of these old homes had a viewing deck to watch the ships come into Port Adelaide.”

However the home built in 1856 is not for the fainthearted, not just because of the creepy clown in the cellar or the skeleton poking out of a fireplace.

“The whole place is ready for someone to come and buy it, and just go for it,” Mr Toop said of the property which needs works, mostly on the cosmetic front.

While the rear title could potentially be sold off, some access issues would need to be addressed, Mr Toop noted.

Mr Toop is expecting offers of around $1.5 million for the property which is scheduled to go to auction on September 25. But be warned. “If you are a scaredy-cat, don’t come.”