9 Normanby Avenue, Thornbury, has been in the same family for more than 100 years. Photo: Nelson Alexander It’s not often a 94-year-old who was born in the front room of the property is there for its auction, but it happened on Saturday at 9 Normanby Avenue, Thornbury.
While elderly Bill stayed on the shaded verandah out front, 80 people made their way down the crumbling hallway to watch Nelson Alexander auctioneer Tom Alexiadis sell the house that has remained in the same family since being built.
Bidding began mildly at $1.1 million, but several $100,000 rises by a buyers’ advocate, on behalf of a developer, pushed the property way above its $1.26 million reserve. Several other would-be buyers — including an active-wear clad woman who sprinted in, while double parked, to make four enthusiastic bids — offered to buy it, but it was a local land holder adept at “cherry picking the best sites” who paid $1,645,000 to decide its future.
The rundown home sold for $1,645,000 at auction. Photo: Nelson Alexander
Before the “end of an era” auction, Mr Alexiadis spruiked the Victorian’s attractions, being: “An awesome home with great land in one of the hottest spots in Melbourne.” He’s right about the location, though it hasn’t always been that way, admitted vendor Anne Fisher.
“Thornbury’s hugely different to when I grew up in the house in the ’60s to the ’80s,” she laughed, after admitting that she was “blown away” by the result. “If people asked where you lived, you’d mumble quietly and hope they didn’t hear!”
While the new owner joked about building 10-storeys, Mrs Fisher was jubilant about the result. “It’s a big result, it’s a lovely result. It means that everybody gets the chance to do something further with their lives,” she said.
The property at 1/123 Blyth Street, Altona, attracted interest from the elderly and first home buyers. Photo: Hocking Stuart
Meanwhile, almost by the sea in sunny Altona, a cautious tenant was defending his bond by keeping an eye on what sticky beakers were bringing into the unit – which kept him just as busy as the coffee cart man outside.
The spacious two-bedroom unit at 1/123 Blyth Street had attracted interest from the elderly and first home buyers, and sold with just three would-be buyers in the crowd of 80 showing interest.
A nervous man standing with his excited family made a $600,000 start, and a middle-aged couple enthusiastically outbid him. A young woman then offered $700,000 but the couple beat her with $720,000.
This villa at 1/123 Blyth Street, Altona, has two bedrooms. Photo: Hocking Stuart
Already sweating, Hocking Stuart auctioneer Gus Anile said he was happy to stand out in the sun for longer, though that promise didn’t help him drum up another bid from anyone else, including the woman. Having already conceded that the unit was on the market, he sold it to the couple.