A much-loved family home offered for the first time in 52 years sparked a four-way battle as buyers showed their appreciation for its prized old Highton neighbourhood.
The St Elmo Cres address lit a fire under auction day bidders who saw potential to make the original three-bedroom house their own.
A young family bidding over the phone while holidaying overseas eventually snared the 852sq m property for $785,000.
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The quiet street is walking distance from Highton Primary School.
The resulted landed $45,000 above price hopes.
Gartland, Geelong agent Will Ainsworth said the scarcity of similar properties in the area and the attractive block size fuelled competition.
“These properties are not just run of the mill, you turn up next week and there’s another one,” he said.
“The buyers went through quite early on and knew they were going to be overseas.
“They are a young family and wanted something they could move into and do some things to over time and with the block size.”
Gartland, Geelong agent Will Ainsworth said it was “exciting” to see such a depth of competition in the crowd.
An underbidder raises a hand for the 852sq m property.
The kitchen/meals area has sliding doors onto a patio.
Bidding opened at $680,000, with Mr Ainsworth telling the crowd the property was on the market as the price reached $760,000.
He said the selling up was “ big deal” for the vendors, whose family had owned the brick house since 1972.
They extended in 1978, adding a rear main bedroom suite with a balcony to access the mature garden.
The flexible floorplan also includes two living zones, still sporting their original amber glass panelled doors, and a central kitchen.
The spacious front living area has room for formal dining.
The main bedroom is a private retreat with balcony access, a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.
Mr Ainsworth said the vendors had fond memories of 30 or 40 children living and playing the street.
With Highton Primary School and the Tim Hill Recreation Reserve within walking distance, the location continues to attract families.
“There was cricket, there was footy,” he said.
“There was also apparently a Geelong footballer that lived over there and the penalty was if you missed something he would stab you with a footy bang, straight in and you’d have to mark it.
“What an amazing way to grow up.”
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