15 Newman Road, Wavell Heights is going to auction on July 16.
A Brisbane home overrun by squatters and described as a ‘shanty town’, has hit the market and already attracted plenty of buyer interest.
The three-bedroom house in Wavell Heights, became the centre of a major clean-up after police removed squatters who had taken over the home, leaving behind mountains of rubbish, graffiti and extensive damage.
Selling agent Thomas Coussens of Place Ascot said the interstate owner had initially been told there might be squatters living at the property.
15 Newman Road, Wavell Heights is going to auction on July 16.
“The property hadn’t been legally lived in for 15 years,” Mr Coussens said.
“Little did the owner realise squatters had been living there for at least three years,” Mr Coussens said.
“The backyard had effectively become a shanty town.
“There was a camper, tents, rubbish everywhere and people living throughout the property.”
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15 Newman Road, Wavell Heights is going to auction on July 16.
Mr Coussens immediately advised the owner to contact police.
Police attended the property before later returning to remove the occupants, allowing locksmiths to secure the home.
However, within days, the front and back doors had been kicked in again.
15 Newman Road, Wavell Heights is going to auction on July 16.
When specialist cleaners later attended the property to quote the clean- up, another occupant was still inside.
“We explained why we were there and gave everyone every opportunity to collect anything important before the clean-up began,” Mr Coussens said.
“Regardless of the circumstances, we wanted to make sure anything that was important to them wasn’t simply thrown away.”
The clean-up took specialist trauma crews two days, filling an industrial skip with rubbish while safely disposing of hazardous waste.
The clean-up took specialist trauma crews two days, filling an industrial skip with rubbish while safely disposing of hazardous waste.
Despite its extraordinary recent history, the property has already attracted strong inquiry from buyers looking beyond the existing dwelling.
“People aren’t buying this for the house; they’re buying one of the best blocks in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held suburbs,” Mr Coussens said.
“Opportunities like this are becoming incredibly hard to find. It’s a level 655sq m block in blue-chip Wavell Heights, surrounded by quality homes and only minutes from schools, parks and Westfield Chermside.”
15 Newman Road, Wavell Heights. The clean-up took specialist trauma crews two days, filling an industrial skip with rubbish while safely disposing of hazardous waste.
Mr Coussens said while the home’s past had shocked many, buyers recognised the long-term opportunity.
“Sometimes the ugliest house can sit on the best piece of land.”
The property will go under the hammer July 16.
PropTrack data revealed the median house price in Wavell Heights is $1.65m.
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