Phones ring hot for dilapidated Sydney house in a cool suburb

Vendors will lay planks down the hallway of this derelict Sydney home for prospective buyers so they can peer inside the ramshackle, inaccessible rooms.

It’s a classic case of the worst house in the best suburb and when 13 Wallace Street, Marrickville, goes under the hammer, it will fetch land value only.

The four-bedroom house is so rickety it would come crashing down if the hot young things in the local pubs stomped their feet too hard to the latest rock band.

But that is part of the appeal.

Marrickville was ranked as the 10th coolest suburb in the world by Time Out magazine in 2020, and has kept that mantle within Sydney’s happening inner west. Time Out is a global network of publications that covers art, fashion, events, nightlife and food.

SOLD - $1,303,000

13 Wallace Street, Marrickville NSW 2204

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The block of land on Wallace Street presents an opportunity to build a home in a bustling, culturally-rich neighbourhood.

Listing agent Dean Vasil, from Ray White Earlwood, said the property is part of a deceased estate and the family have instructed him not to guide on price, as it has to be sold, and send it to auction.

The median house price in Marrickville is $1.97 million, according to Domain data.

The Wallace Street house is uninhabitable, but there are remnants of a life left behind, including champagne coupe glasses atop the piano, dishwashing liquid next to the kitchen sink and a Hills Hoist in the garden.

The block of 366 square metres is a “healthy size” for the suburb, Mr Vasil said.

“I have had six or seven phones calls and I only just clicked the button,” he said of the new listing, fielding interest from several parties within one hour of it being advertised.

Mr Vasil said Marrickville is sometimes dubbed “Little Athens” for its Greek community, and has excellent transport links.

“Marrickville is part of the vibrant inner west and it is one of the coolest suburbs in Sydney,” he said.

Mr Vasil said the property is unique for its original condition.

“I have only sold one other like it in my career – a hoarder’s house”, which he said rocketed at auction.

Mr Vasil said although the house is not deemed dangerous, he would need to conduct the open for inspections a little “differently”, and vendors would place planks along the hall for buyers to walk along, so they can look inside the rooms.

The house goes to auction on October 29.