Sydney properties holding live electricity substations have again hit the market, following a burst of listings that sparked online outrage last year.
Three Sydney blocks are currently listed for sale with auctions set for the same day next month.
The listings follow the sale of other substation sites in the inner west and north shore late last year at prices ranging from $800,000-$1.8m.
The new listings, marketed without price guides, include Strathfield properties at 3 Parsons Avenue and Lot 1 Ada Ave, as well as Lot A, Lees Ave in Croydon Park.
The listing descriptions boast phrases such as “blank canvas in a premium pocket” or “a rare landholding in a premier inner-west address.”
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Lot A, Lees Avenue, Croydon Park is currently on the market
Aerial view of Lot A, Lees Avenue, Croydon Park
All three properties are listed via Belle Property North Shore Joshua Jarvis with scope for development, subject to council approval.
Mr Jarvis said the sites are “certainly quirky in nature” and have created quite a lot of intrigue.
“They present a unique opportunity to purchase at an affordable entry point into premium Sydney suburbs that are usually out of reach for most Australians,” he said.
“The vendors have taken appropriate steps to make the blocks more usable for buyers, although future uses for the blocks are expected to be creative; with interested buyers looking at things such as storage space, garaging, tiny homes, or even amalgamation with neighbouring blocks.”
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3 Parsons Avenue, Strathfield currently listed for sale
Lot 1, Ada Avenue, Strathfield currently on the market
According to Mr Jarvis, given the unique nature of the sites they are not quoting price guides with all three sites going to public auction “to give everyone a fair and equal opportunity to purchase them”.
Mr Jarvis said feedback from the market at this stage has ranged from $100,000 for the site on Lees Ave, Croydon Park, up to $150,000 on the site in Parsons Ave, Strathfield.
“Last year we sold seven similar sites across the lower and upper north shore, several of the sites were purchased by adjoining neighbours and the remaining sites were purchased by people looking to build small, affordable homes on them, or in one case, where the zoning was appropriate, a commercial property.”
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24A Kenneth Street, Longueville previously sold
Some of the properties with substations that sold last year commanded a range of prices.
The blocks were understood to be sold off by a subsidiary of Ausgrid, which no longer needed them. They were zoned R2 for low density residential.
Some users online labelled the sales “disgusting” and an example of “greed”, while others expressed concerns about the potential noise and disruption of living around functioning electricity infrastructure.
A listing for a Kenneth St property, that ended up selling for up to $1.8m, claimed the “compact block offers endless potential for those with vision”.
“This has to be a late April fool’s joke,” said one comment. Another said: “God they are desperate”.
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