50 Baker St, Ocean Grove, goes to auction on March 14 with $2.7m to $2.95m price hopes.
An original Art Deco home in Ocean Grove known as ‘The Castle’ has hit the market for the first time since it was built 90 years ago.
East Geelong electrician Thomas Sullivan constructed the striking curved residence brick by brick as a weekend project back in 1936.
After many memorable summers spent with extended family at 50 Baker St, Ocean Grove, his grandsons Peter and Mark Newton are now selling the beachside property.
RELATED: Cricket great Ian Redpath’s family home hits market
Spectacular sunsets revealed at Ocean Grove beach house
Young couple beats seven bidders for Geelong home
The house is just a short walk from Ocean Grove beach.
The $2.7m to $2.95m listing includes the main three-bedroom house and another semi-detached dwelling that’s now divided into three holiday apartments.
Peter Newton said some families had been renting the holiday lets for 60 years, with the third generation now returning each summer.
He said his grandfather constructed the original holiday home himself, using a brick moulding machine on site.
It earned the nickname ‘The Castle’ among his surfing mates in the 1970s.
“At night, at weekends, spare times he built the house in the late 1930s,” Mr Newtown said.
“Upstairs the front was like a Grecian style as well and he made moulds for all that. It’s amazing how he did it all – he just added one room to another and started from there.
“All the family used to come down and it was a great thing growing up as kids … we would come down and share it with family.”
The curved front window is a signature feature of the home.
The main lounge links to a large balcony.
The smaller dwelling is divided into three self-contained apartment.
The first floor living rooms, with views extending from the Barwon Heads Bluff to the river estuary, were the go to for annual New Year’s Day gatherings.
RT Edgar listing agent Brock Grainger said the 858sq m property, one block from Ocean Grove beach, was generating an unusually high level of interest ahead of its scheduled March 14 auction.
“The main residence is really cool with its rotunda-like castle feature out the front,” Mr Grainger said.
“What I am finding from buyers is that it’s all about the location. It’s so tightly held, but also the stunning views that are going to be on offer from the existing building or if someone was to redevelop.
“There are a few people contemplating the idea of renovating and restoring it to some of its former glory but there is definitely a lot of interest purely on the location and the views for redevelopment.”
Help us improve your reading experience
Got a minute? Your feedback will help us build a better experience for you.
Help us improve this page
English (US) · 