A rare Scotch Hill estate in Hawthorn has come to market after more than 60 years, highlighting the extreme scarcity of large family landholdings in Melbourne’s inner east.
A Hawthorn family estate held for more than 60 years has hit the market, offering a scale of land in Scotch Hill agents say is now virtually impossible to secure.
The five-bedroom inter-war home at Woodford, at 14 Glenroy Rd features sweeping outlooks across its landscaped grounds towards the Melbourne skyline.
Kay & Burton Stonnington agent Ada Taylor said landholdings of this size were no longer being created in inner Melbourne, particularly in blue-chip pockets defined by generational ownership.
“Large-scale landholdings are increasingly scarce across inner Melbourne, but the constraint is even more pronounced in a location as tightly held and prestigious as Scotch Hill,” Ms Taylor said.
“Homes here are often held for generations, and opportunities of this scale are exceptionally rare.”
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Figures supplied by the agent from PropertyData underline the shortage.
Over the past six years, just 24 houses on allotments larger than 1500sq m have sold in Scotch Hill, a trickle of supply compared with 197 sales on smaller blocks in the same period.
Built in 1934 for decorated local resident William Howard St Clair, Woodford remains a highly intact example of inter-war architecture, distinguished by its brick facade, ornate ceilings, timber detailing and original steel-framed windows.
The home comprises five bedrooms, a study, formal living and dining rooms opening to a stone-paved terrace, along with a sunroom, kitchen and breakfast room.
Two driveways and a flexible floorplan provide scope for sympathetic renovation or extension, allowing buyers to balance heritage integrity with contemporary family living.
The elevated inter-war home at 14 Glenroy Rd sits on a 1532sq m allotment in Hawthorn’s tightly held Scotch Hill precinct, offering scale of land now rarely seen in inner Melbourne.
A Google Gemini reimagining shows how the expansive backyard could accommodate a pool and private pickleball court, reflecting buyer demand for elite outdoor recreation space. Picture: Google Gemini
Ms Taylor said while the home’s provenance added appeal, it was the land and elevation that were driving buyer competition.
“The land and the elevation are the key value drivers,” she said.
“But buyers are also drawn to the home’s history and the fact it has been home to respected local figures and pillars of the community.”
She said demand had been sharpened by a long-term shift in how families value space, with large outdoor allotments increasingly viewed as lifestyle assets rather than luxuries.
“Outdoor space is now seen as a long-term investment in family life,” Ms Taylor said.
“Buyers are thinking about how they live over decades, not just the next few years.”
She said the Australian Open had also sharpened interest in active outdoor living, with buyers increasingly valuing homes that could accommodate elite recreation zones such as private courts or similar facilities like pickle ball.
Industry Insider Property buyers agent Andrew Date said opportunities to buy land of this size in Scotch Hill were increasingly rare, with buyers often waiting decades for comparable homes to emerge.
Industry Insider Property founder and prestige buyers agent Andrew Date said the impact of the property was immediate on arrival.
“The street presence is extraordinary,” Mr Date said.
“The width of the frontage, the elevation and the architectural authority create a sense of arrival that is incredibly hard to replicate in inner Melbourne.”
Mr Date said buyer interest was being driven largely by local families, particularly those connected to nearby schools, seeking a long-term base rather than a short-term upgrade.
“These are buyers thinking generationally,” he said.
“They’re drawn to the same enduring qualities that have seen the current owners hold the property for more than six decades.”
Original staircases and period detailing remain intact inside the 1934-built home, offering scope for a sympathetic renovation that balances heritage character with modern family living.
He said Scotch Hill continued to outperform even other blue-chip Hawthorn pockets due to its elevation, proximity to leading schools including Scotch College, strong transport links and direct access to the CBD.
The property is being marketed with a $8.2m-$9.0m price guide.
And for buyers who miss out, Mr Date warned opportunities of this scale were unlikely to reappear any time soon.
“You could be waiting decades for another home with this land, outlook and potential to come to market,” he said.
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