MANSION SALE SETS CITY HOUSE RECORD
A GRAND renovated 19th century Newtown mansion has smashed Geelong’s record price for a house.
The historic five-bedroom home at 2 Raith Terrace, Newtown, sold last week after a six-month campaign.
The Advertiser understands the 6434sq m estate, which sits above Deviation Road overlooking the Barwon River and Queens Park, sold for well above $6m in a confidential deal.
Whitford Newtown agent Dale Whitford listed the property in November, 2020 with price hopes from $6.75m to $7.25m.
Mr Whitford said he couldn’t comment on the sale.
It’s the biggest price for a house in metropolitan Geelong since a Costa family mansion at 1-3 Whyte Court, Newtown, sold for more than $5m last year. Corio Villa, an early 19th century prefabricated house built above Eastern Beach in central Geelong, had held the city’s price record after selling for $5m back in 2012.
It’s the second $6m-plus sale in the region this year, after a three level, six-bedroom Ocean Grove beachfront house sold for $6.65m in January.
Other recent multi-million-dollar sales include a circa-$3m estate at Buckley Falls Road, Highton, and $3.2m for a four-bedroom multi-level beach house at Aireys Inlet.
Raith is one of Geelong’s most prestigious historic homes and was listed for sale following a luxury renovation.
The original house dates back to 1855.
The property previously sold in 2015 for $3.5m. Among its past owners was Geelong
Cats great Bob Davis.
The house is surrounded by a veranda decorated with tessellated tiles and wrought iron lacework and is positioned to offer an unrivalled panoramic view from above the Fyansford Deviation.
Inside, soaring ceilings feature throughout, with a light well in a library and grand bay windows in other rooms.
The house has four vast living areas, five bedrooms each with designated bathrooms, and a designer kitchen with a substantial butler’s pantry and adjoining dining room.
Bi-folding glass doors link the family hub to north-facing private gardens.
Outdoors are twin four-car garages, a sweeping circular driveway, a glasshouse with a heated 25m lap pool, spa, sauna and gym and a threebedroom guesthouse.