Young couple to reset the clock on Modernist time capsule

1 day ago 4
Peter Farago

Geelong Advertiser

The modernist style house at 276 Autumn St, Manifold Heights, was listed with $800,000 to $850,000 price hopes.


A mid-century style home packed with original features has been snapped up after a three-way executor’s auction.

The three-bedroom residence at 276 Autumn St, Manifold Heights, sold for $890,000 at Saturday’s auction, with purchasers expecting to work on updating the home.

Belle Property, Geelong West agent Maree Corda said the house was originally a California bungalow, before it was completely made over the late 1960s into a Modernist style complete with a Palm Springs-style cinder block wall and large blocks of windows.

RELATED: Geelong Cats great puts Barrabool Hills farm up for sale

Geelong suburbs where house prices are surging fastest

California dream just moments from the bay

Ms Corda described the house as a true time capsule of mid-century design and craftsmanship, with original features from the era including striking stone and wood detailing, bespoke built-in planters, warm timber panelling, textured gold glass features, a bubblegum pink bathroom and retro light fittings.

The property attracted plenty of interest, particularly from people with a building background keen to rework the residence as a project.

The brick feature wall surrounding the heater is a definite mid-century design element.


276 Autumn St, Manifold Heights, goes to auction with $800,000 to $850,000 price hopes.


“I had three or four people who expressed that they would turn up,” she said.

“We had strong attendance through the property because of the curiosity factor but then on the actual day there was one of the builders.

“He started the bidding but then he bowed out.”

Ms Corda said another bidder inspected the property for the first time 20 minutes prior to the auction, but ultimately lost out to the young couple returning to Geelong.

“They coming back to Geelong to put some roots down. They’ve got family that live in Newtown.

Tiled ceilings and large windows are some of the mid century design features evident throughout the house.


The cinder block feature wall is an element from the Palm Springs-style modernist design.


“They said their plan at this stage is really just to not change it much other than to give it a revive,” Ms Corda said.

“We’ll wait and see when they start that project to see what happens.”

Bidding opened at $700,000 for the 662sq m property, Ms Corda said, before the auction eclipsed the $800,000 to $850,000 price guide by $40,000.

Though the property has a side driveway leading the double garage at the rear of the block, a right of way can provide separate access to the rear of the property.

Read Entire Article