Our market’s slow movers

A LUXURY Newtown heritage fire station conversion headlines a list of amazing Geelong homes that caught our attention this year but are still yet to find a buyer.

Some of the longest listings have spent more than 300 days on the market in 2021.

Quirky, one-off homes feature prominently on a realestate.com.au breakdown of those that have been up for grabs for the longest time.

The former Birregurra hospital, turned private residence and accommodation business, took out top spot on the list.

Originally listed on February 2, the 10-bedroom, sevenbathroom home has been trying to attract a buyer for 313 days.

It’s joined by a sprawling Drysdale acreage property with a next-level outdoor entertainment area and the highend former fire station in Pakington St, Newtown (pictured), which first hit the market in March, 263 days ago.

One buyer bid for the converted five-bedroom, fourbathroom

residence before it was passed in at auction in April.

McGrath, Geelong agent Jim Cross said a recent price reduction to $2.2m-$2.4m had attracted fresh interest.

“It’s offers something very unique for someone to buy an iconic Newtown building and a luxury residence in the heart of Newtown,” Mr Cross said.

“With the price adjusted, the property now offers fantastic value and it is of such a high quality, it’s really an amazing home.”

Ray White, Colac agent Chris Peeters said the vendors of her unusual Birregurra listing,

Butlers House, had loved living there but were ready to move on.

She said there was scope to create a tourism business or just a larger family home at the updated 1916 building.

“It’s an interesting property as it was originally a hospital, then it became aged care and a restaurant so it’s had a chequered past with all the different owners,” Ms Peeters said.

“The opportunity is for someone or even a blended family, I had someone look at it who had three families living under the same roof, so that’s an option.”