Two generations were raised by Rob and Christine Downey at 19 Wolcott St, Wishart: first as parents, then as grandparents.
But after forty years in the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, the pair decided to sell it in an auction that drew a crowd of fifty people to watch.
19 Wolcott St, Wishart. Picture: Nicholas Finch
The two-storey home had been renovated before the sale on Saturday morning, with a modern chef’s kitchen near the view out back, overlooking the pool.
In the covered patio out the back, the auction was held in front of ten registered bidders, the Downey family, neighbours and other onlookers who were curious to see how the sale would go.
Six active bidders went head to head, as bidding began with a starting offer of $1.1 million.
A crowd of 50 packed around at the rear of the home to see the auction, from registered bidders to family members and neighbours of the old owners. Picture: Nicholas Finch
Bidding quickly increased to $1.5 million within minutes, with bidders dropping out and stepping in as the home was called on the market.
Soon, three active bidders were raising the offer by smaller and smaller bids, with $1,000 bids moving back and forth between the three.
One bidder, who would go on to win the home, began to price others out by raising the bids by $10,000 each time.
With the third remaining bidder dropping out after $1.6 million, the last two competitors went neck and neck for the final stretch. The winning bidder was resolute on buying the house – “You’re just costing me more money,” she said after the underbidder raised it once again.
In the end, the property sold under the hammer for $1.627 million.
The family who have given away their old home: Rob, Christine and Kate Downey, Olivia Mills, Cian Guningham, Madeline Downey and Kirby Guningham. Not present: Michael Downey. Picture: Nicholas Finch
Agent Kosma Comino of LJ Hooker Property Partners – Sunnybank Hills and Mount Gravatt, said the new owners were a young couple who had been looking for a home for some time, and were moving further out from the city to help save some money.
“They came back to the home several times,” he said. “I picked them as one of the top buyers from the start.”
Auctioneer Paul Moore said the auction was a great result in a high-value area. “It’s rare that you haven’t got a fair bit of demand for something in Wishart that’s as well-presented as this one,” he said.
The Downey family were sad to see the home go – especially Rob and Christine’s children, who spent their early years in the home – but were happy with how the auction turned out.
“I think it was about what we’d hoped, but more than what we were expecting,” Mr Downey said. “[The house is] full of memories – we’ll take those with us.”
“It’s gonna be a great house for the people who bought it … I think they’re gonna thoroughly enjoy it.”
English (US) · 