Bizarre Australian properties: mannequin house to fireplace loo

Trying to get your house to stand out against literally thousands of other homes on the market at any given time can be a challenge.

But not for the owners of these places.

These places are so quirky, so unique, they manage that all on their own.

Here are some of the most interesting properties listed across Australia over the past 12 months.

They’re certainly not something you see every day!

NEW SOUTH WALES

Epic $8m man cave with diner, hot rods and collectables

Like stepping onto the film set of Grease, this unique property has been dubbed as the sale of the ‘ultimate man cave’ yet after two years it’s still awaiting its perfect mate.

The property known as ‘Crusty’s Hot Rods and Collectables’ – located in Kurmond, just one hour from Sydney – comes with all the toys included from a collection of one-off hot rods to a 1950s American diner – complete with a commercial kitchen and a gift shop – along with retro artefacts and memorabilia that will transport you back in time.

The one-of-a-kind property was listed for sale looking for expressions of interest for over two years now, with Oz Realty agent Maurice Mantovani saying the inspections were “far and few between,” due to the uniqueness of the property and the owner’s $8m price hopes. “It’s not just the property (you’re paying for) it’s the business prospect, the commercial kitchen and burger set up and all the collectable items,” he said.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

Aussie’s unusual mannequin styling exposed after home listed

A mysterious, 135-year-old blacksmith shop decorated with mannequins, dolls and chains came up for sale between Sydney and Newcastle in one of the year’s most intriguing listings.

Situated in the Wollombi Valley area, the home abounds with eerie artefacts and has a storied history.

The 2,000 sqm block on Wollombi Rd includes a cottage, an old barn, a carport and an intriguing old blacksmith’s workshop, now known as the ‘Forge Gallery’.

Listing agent Stephen Annis-Brown of Wollombi Real Estate said the gallery offered “a bewildering array of old wares, second hand and recycled merchandise, clothing, artifacts, artworks and rarities beyond.”

It is littered with bits and bobs from a bygone era, including mannequins and dolls. The gallery’s taste for dummies and dolls carries through the whole property — there are statues and mannequins in the living room, the carport and on the veranda.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

Inside the Aussie home with a satellite dish in the backyard

A NSW property captured attention thanks to an out-of-this-world inclusion in the backyard – a telescope and satellite dish.

The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope sits on an 84ha property in Hoskinstown, about 40km south east of Canberra.

The observatory was operated by the University of Sydney’s School of Physics between 1965 and 2023.

It mapped the entire southern sky through the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey, as well as detecting fast radio bursts.

The observatory was retired to make way for next-generation of facilities like the Square Kilometre Array in WA.

Over the course of its 58 years in operation, generations of astronomers lived in the on-site student quarters while conducting their research.

As well as the student residence, the site includes a three-bedroom fibro cottage, administration building with offices, workshop, and of course the satellite dish.

The entire property sold at auction for $1.25m on October 4, following a campaign that attracted the interests of two distinct buyer groups.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Byron Bay Cookie Company founder lists Adelaide penthouse

If seeing your reflection in the bathroom mirror strikes terror, then spare a thought for Gary Lines, who is bombarded with dozens of images of himself every time he visits the washroom of his 3401/19 Frome Street, Adelaide apartment.

The one-of-a-kind powder room, across the hall from a much-used study, is adorned with custom wallpaper that features the Adelaide author’s face in various expressions – the brainchild of Mr Lines’s partner and interior design enthusiast Maggi Miles.

“(The wallpaper) was Maggi’s idea,’’ Mr Lines said.

“And I’m glad I can say that and that it’s actually true – I would look a little narcissistic if it was my idea.

“I was pretty lukewarm on it when she first floated the idea.

“But I don’t even notice my image in there anymore – in fact, when guests use the rest room they come out laughing and that’s when I remember it’s there.’’

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

X-rated bathroom feature stuns buyers

A Glenelg North home with a unique – some might say ‘adults-only’ – feature is capturing buyer’s attention, with its selling agent saying he has never sold another home with anything like it.

The home at 39 Adelphi Crescent, Glenelg North, which hit the market with a price guide of $5.3m to $5.5m after its expressions of interest campaign ended, has a raft of amazing features to dazzle house hunters, including a spectacular indoor pool and outdoor kitchen.

By far the most unique feature – the most uncommon one in Adelaide’s conservative market – is the floor-to-ceiling bathroom mural depicting a nude male and woman.

Well, the guy’s in the nick. The woman is wearing a pair of black gloves as she attempts to cover her breasts.

Selling agent Josh Morrison of Magain Real Estate said it was certainly a talking point.

“I’ve never sold a place with something like this before – it’s pretty unique,” he said.

“It’s definitely different, and I like it.

“It’s really classy – it’s been really well done. I love it!”

We do too.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

Art and antiquities legend sells home of almost 60 years

It’s been a much loved family home for almost six decades, and showcases of one of SA’s most incredible private antique collections, and this year this historic Waterfall Gully home could have been all yours.

Elder Fine Art founder Jim Elder and his wife Helen bought the stunning 155 Waterfall Gully Rd, Waterfall Gully property 57 years ago while they were in their twenties, and now, with them both in their eighties, Mr Elder says it is time to say goodbye to the place they have loved calling home.

“Going back in the early days there was a big orchard there and a lot of land was joined to that particular property,” he said.

“The building that you’re seeing now was built in I think about 1880

“In the early days when the settlement of Adelaide I think it was a tavern – you’ve got to remember that was a day’s trip by buggy from the CBD out to there and you had the beautiful waterfall at the end of the road, and that was picnic spot for the colonial settlers in South Australia.”

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

QUEENSLAND

Unliveable stilt home sparks buyer frenzy

An unliveable Queensland home which was gutted, raised 3m in the air, then left unfinished for ten years, sparked a buyer frenzy after hitting the market with a $400,000 price tag.

Interest in the three-bedroom, no-bathroom house outside Ipswich has been “absolutely mental”, with first-home buyers and builders in the mix to claim the keys, according to marketing agent Megan Acutt, of Ray White Ipswich.

Ms Acutt said the house would go to its first open-home inspection, though it was not yet confirmed whether buyers would be able to go inside.

“The only way in is up on a ladder,” Ms Acutt said.

“We’ve got an offer in from a first-home buyer already, and other people interested who want to pull the house down and build their own.”

The 58 Gatton Street, Grandchestehome was already raised to about 2m, and the then-new owners hired a house removal specialist to lift it another 1.2m approx., in order to fit a car or truck beneath, and potentially accommodate ceilings of up to 3m in height.

“The owners wanted to put another dwelling underneath so they lifted it but then decided not to, and left it for ten-odd years,” Ms Acutt said.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

You can own this fairytale castle

A hidden castle was this year listed for sale complete with turrets and whimsical details, it just needs a little help from a reno fairy godmother.

Reminiscent of North Queensland’s Paronella Park, the incredible property was built by its long-time owner and sits surrounded by greenery.

Selling agent Louis Bartle of Bartle Real Estate said the castle at 17 Forsythia Drive, Tamborine Mountain, was a “renovator’s fairytale”.

“It’s extremely unique,” he said.

“It is quite charming from the outside and there is a lot of craftsmanship that has gone into it, but internally it’s tired.”

The current owner began building the castle in the 1980s and lovingly worked on it over the years.

“He was from Germany and did an apprenticeship as an architect and carpenter there,” Mr Bartle said.

“He built this to reflect the architecture of where he grew up in Germany and it was the second house he built on Tamborine Mountain.

“It has been a labour of love and hopefully it’s going to be someone else’s labour of love.”

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

$600k for a house you can’t live in

This pink stone cottage hit the market priced under $600,000 – but the buyer won’t be able to live in the quirky property.

The Gold Coast Hinterland property is one of six cottages located on the grounds of a one-of-a-kind castle originally built by a British expat looking to recreate a traditional English village.

An Ipswich investor couple paid $440,000 in 2022 for the cottage, one of ten strata-titled units in the Lisson Grove Estate at 274 Main Western Rd, Tamborine Mountain.

Owners Shellie and Vikram Goyal have listed it for offers over $590,000, describing the sale as a “storybook” opportunity, but one buyers need to approach with due diligence.

“This property is short-term rental zoned. This means that it cannot be your permanent residence and a maximum stay of three weeks or less at one time is allowed,” Mr Goyal said.

“Most banks and financial institutions will not lend against this property as a security because of this reason, so please enquire accordingly.”

“[It’s] ideal for hands-off investors, couples seeking a romantic retreat, downsizers wanting a low-maintenance holiday home [or] anyone dreaming of passive income with mountain charm.”

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

VICTORIA

Carlton penthouse features bizarre crawl-through fireplace bathroom

An “extremely unique” Melbourne penthouse offered homebuyers the unusual chance to crawl under a fireplace to get into the bathroom.

The about 20-year-old 25/28 Little Cardigan St, Carlton, home’s double-storey, three-bedroom floorplan comes with unusual, striking decor that the listing agent is calling “way ahead of its time”.

Barry Plant Docklands’ Alexander George is selling the home and described the wider decor as “extremely unique”.

“I have never seen anything like it, and I have seen a lot of apartments,” Mr George said.

One of the home’s most striking features is its lower-ground level bathroom that connects a home office to the main bedroom’s ensuite via a sizeable hole set beneath a fireplace.

Despite it featuring a shower, bath and a lavatory, there is no door between the two spaces.

There does appear to be a curtain rail installed – but there’s nothing hung on it in the listing photos.

Mr George is advising against crawling in, given the potentially high temperatures above.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

Melbourne couple list ex-brothel

A Melbourne couple who turned a brothel into their home have revealed why they decided to keep a few hints of its sordid past — and the concerning things they had to remove.

Paul Ghaie and partner Lucy Wallace bought Fitzroy’s former Club Rose bordello in 2014, complete with used mattresses and spa baths, as well as some roman columns in its former VIP area.

But rather than erase the 182 Rose St property’s seedy history, the pair decided to bring in architects for a sympathetic renovation including retaining some of its very pink former paint scheme and having repairs done on a neon sign reading “exquisite ladies” that still lights up their courtyard today.

And the update is poised to make it a multimillion-dollar address.

“We were living in an apartment two doors up at the time it was a working brothel,” Mr Ghaie said.

“But the tenant’s fled in the middle of the night … then it was up for sale.”

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

Hidden forest-themed bar uncovered in quirky listing

A secret forest-themed speak-easy is hidden behind a bookcase at this quirky house in Melbourne’s west.

Owner Jonathon Grima is selling the circa-1920s Albion home he renovated to create a magical wonderland-style pad with a $1.4m-$1.5m range.

The five-bedroom residence at 25 Sydney St features a hidden bar that rises out of the kitchen island bench at the touch of a button, an outdoor cinema, barrel sauna and heated pool.

Beyond the weatherboard facade there’s also a taxidermied peacock imported from Puerto Rico, a collection of Barbie dolls in birdcages, golden swan taps and green-coloured kitchen cabinetry with motorised doors.

Read the rest of the story and see more of this amazing property here

Original stories by Tom Bowden, Lauren Ahwan, Courtney Snowden, Viva Hyde, Nathan Mawby, Alesha Capone, Taylor Troeth and Owen Raymond.