Willyama at 40 Kirk Rd, Point Lonsdale, was on the market for the first time in 85 years.
The Point Lonsdale house linked to the extended family of Geelong Cats great and media personality Sam Newman has been snapped up for the first time in 85 years.
Willyama has remained within the Newman family since the former footballer’s father Noel bought the property at 40 Kirk Rd in 1939, and had been passed down to his late sister.
Listing agent Anna Fletcher, of Fletchers Queenscliff, said multiple groups were bidding for the property when the deadline sale closed last week.
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Ms Fletcher said a young family in Point Lonsdale secured the property.
“They loved the history of it, and obviously the land size and the house size just fitted their family perfectly,” Ms Fletcher said.
“Like so many people who came through because they were so interested in the history of it. “It’s a special part of Point Lonsdale history, and it’s a quality property.
“It was presented beautifully, was meticulously maintained over its life, which is always a pleasure to sell.
“The garden was really special and manicured over its life, and that definitely contributed to the response that we had.”
Willyama at 40 Kirk Rd, Point Lonsdale, is on the market for the first time in 85 years.
Willyama became a cherished family retreat across decades of summers and family gatherings and even the early development of Point Lonsdale.
In more recent years, the original house was rebuilt by Geelong builder Bell & Fulton for Newman’s late sister, creating a home that honours the spirit of the original site while embracing refined contemporary coastal living.
The property had been listed in a deadline sale closing on June 12. It’s understood the property for circa $3m.
Jock Langley of Abercromby’s was a conjunctional agent.
AFL and media personality Sam Newman visited his childhood home Willyama before it sold.
Newman and partner Sue Stanley recently filmed a trip down the Bellarine Peninsula in his striking red 1959 Cadillac to visit the home where Newman said he lived before being recruited to play for the Geelong Football Club.
Newman said his father gave the house it’s name, Willyama, which he believed was an Indigenous word meaning “over the crest”.
“I lived here before I started playing football with Geelong, when I moved to Geelong.”
In two videos published on his YouTube channel, Newman recounted how his mother and sister created and tended to the beautiful garden on the 1182sq m property.
Willyama at 40 Kirk Rd, Point Lonsdale.
The property occupies an exclusive “old Lonsdale” location, close to the Lonsdale Golf Club and a short walk to the beach and shopping village.
Ms Fletcher said many people were keen to see the property due to its history in Point Lonsdale.
“There was obviously some fascination due to the history of it and people coming through and going down memory lane, and talking about the owners always bending over in the garden, and working hard in the garden, so a combination of interest from various groups, but definitely genuine buyers as well,” she said.
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