The worst house in the best suburb? Seven fixer-uppers in popular Sydney spots

Real estate is meant to be about location, location, location – which is something these homes have, even if some of them don’t have much else.

These fixer-uppers in desirable spots vary in condition from well-kept and liveable to completely derelict, and could be an opportunity to renovate or completely rebuild in some of Sydney’s more sought-after suburbs.

26 Botanic Road, Mosman
Auction: November 30
Price guide: $3.2 million

An estate sale, this 1920s-era three-bedroom home is just up the road from Balmoral Beach, and has had plenty of interest so far.

“It’s been strong, but you’d expect that,” said agent Andrew Croll from Croll, explaining that properties like the one on Botanic Road were usually pretty popular.

While it was in a “beautiful spot”, the home would probably require more than the standard new bathroom and kitchen, a lick of paint and some new light fittings.

“I think to live in it, you really do need to look at the roof a little bit, and some of the walls,” Mr Croll said.

Funds from the sale of the late owner’s home were predominantly going to charity.

Mosman was the most-searched Sydney suburb for properties to buy on the Domain website last month. It has a median house price of $3.7 million.

25 Pine Street, Newtown
Auction: November 23

This “turn of the century blank canvas” hasn’t traded in close to half a century.  Around the corner from MacDonaldtown station and  in very poor condition, the listing warns those with mould allergies to avoid coming to inspection.

Nick Moraitis, from LJ Hooker Newtown, said the property would need a full renovation, and there hadn’t really been anything in that location in similar condition over the year.

“They are popular – they are blank canvas so people can put their stamp on it,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for someone wanting to build a pretty special home in a great location.”

No price guide has been disclosed, but the home will be sold on auction day to the highest bidder, he says.

With a median house price of $1.28 million, Newtown was the sixth-most popular suburb for searches of property to buy in October.

147 Queen Street, Woollahra 
Auction: November 16
Price interest at $4.5 million-$5 million 

In Sydney’s east in Woollahra, this four-bedroom terrace is on the market for the first time in nearly 50 years and is in need of a complete renovation.

Peter Perry, from The Agency Eastern Suburbs, said the run-down home had drawn plenty of interested parties, with several contracts for the 265-square-metre Arabella.

“It’s probably the last remaining one of its kind in the Woollahra village area,” he said.

The front couple of rooms in particular had their original features preserved, he added, but towards the back of the home there were more modern additions.

With a median house price of $3.125 million, Woollahra was the ninth-most searched for suburb across Sydney in October.

It’s no stranger to high-end sales, with records showing two homes have traded for $6.5 million this year – a five-bedroom historic sandstone home at 184 Queen Street, and a five-bedroom home at 8 Glencore Road.

432 Wilson Street, Darlington
Auction: November 30
Price guide: $1.25 million

Just up the road from Carriageworks, this four-bedroom terrace is within walking distance of Redfern, Newtown, Sydney University and Chippendale but it also requires a significant amount of work.

“That is the worst house in the best street,” said agent Duncan Gordon from Raine & Horne Newtown. “It needs to be pretty much rebuilt to a degree.

“It’s got a big footprint, but the whole house need attention. Both on the surface, and under the surface.”

In the plus column, it’s large for the area, and has a north-facing backyard, with plenty of scope to establish a large family home to take advantage of the orientation and location.

The “absolute blank canvas” had received a lot of inquiry already, Mr Gordon said, with Wilson Street in particular a sought-after address.

Darlington has only had nine house sales so far this year, with the most expensive being 30 Golden Grove Street, which sold for $1.7 million.

5 Simeon Street, Clovelly 
Auction: November 23
Price guide: $2.9 million

On the market for the first time in 65 years, this free-standing home on an unusually large 550-square-metre block has views across to the ocean. And despite its inclusion in this list, the solid brick home is in good nick.

“It’s a renovation or a rebuild,” said agent Donna Burke from BHR Bickmore-Hutt Realty. “It is good condition, it’s been well-looked after.”

With one open home so far, there had been a mix of interested parties.

“We’ve had both sorts of people: people who want to knock it down, and people who want to live in it,” she said.

Ms Burke said the home was in a very quiet street, and was a great opportunity for anyone looking for a good-sized block in the beachside suburb.

Clovelly has a median house price of $2.745 million, with the most expensive sale so far this year at 67 Boundary Street, which scored $4.5 million in May.

62 Riviera Avenue, Avalon Beach
Auction: November 16
Price guide: $1.1 million

This deceased estate is a bit of architectural history. It was built by its one and only owner in the classic beachcomber style in 1966 and was enjoyed for many years.

Agent Andrew Blake, from Blake Property, said the main thing the three-bedroom home needed was a new roof. It had attracted a great deal of buyer interest so far, he said.

“A lot of people like that iconic 1960s style,” he said. “And it has a nice view overlooking Pittwater and the ocean swell.”

Avalon Beach has a median house price of $1.765 million on Domain data.