Sold, now for the hard part

THERE were 39 registered bidders and a 100-plus strong crowd when a West End hoarder’s house went under the hammer – complete with its ‘treasure trove’ of items up for grabs.

The number of registered bidders was astounding for any property, let alone one that could not be inspected internally, with public access not permitted due to safety concerns.

Interested buyers were only able to view the property via a 3D tour, with the house and its Aladdin’s Cave sold “as is, where is, sight unseen”, and security fencing erected around its perimeter.

But there could only be one winner, and this time it was a local builder with plans to bring the house back to its former glory.

Ian Clarke of Ian Clarke Real Estate said the power of the imagination was “amazing”.

“It attracted all of these people, over 100 groups, and they couldn’t even see inside,” he said. “The nature strip was blocked, we almost had the lane blocked off.”

Mr Clarke said bidding started at $150,000, with “11 or 12” buyers bidding on the Public Trustee property.

He said the hammer fell at $280,000, with the beneficiary “over the moon” with the result.

“They (the new owners) were not deterred by all of the stuff,” he said.

“After the auction, the winning bidder and his wife did a walk-through.

“I think she has a bit of an artistic flair … there is some interesting items in there.

“I can’t imagine a skip just turning up, I suspect they will be going through the lot.”

Located at 112 Francis St in West End, Townsville, the two-bedroom cottage was sold filled with garbage, random collectibles and damaged furniture.

There was even a newspaper from 1954 and a number of rusted kerosene lamps.

The 1920s Queenslander was in “very poor condition”, according to the listing, and needed some “enthusiastic renovation”. “Internally, the home is filled with an eclectic collection of things of interest, which may realise a hidden treasure or two,” the listing ahead of the auction said.

Features included a full timber interior including timber ceilings, a bullnose veranda, a central hallway with “the most ornate archways and breezeway fretworks”, casement windows and 4m high ceilings with original ceiling roses.

There is also two bedrooms, a central living/dining room, a bathroom and a “kitchen room”.

Previously, Mr Clarke said the elderly owner, who passed away, was a “regular bowerbird”.

“He was quite well-known in the street and would ride his scooter to the Cutheringa Bowls Club,” Mr Clarke said.

Mr Clarke said the man “had cats”, with “about 30,000 cat food cans” found at the property.

He said there “must be 30 to 40 steel travel trunks, suitcases everywhere” and “all sorts of old radios and old electrical pieces”.

“I am not sure what he did back in his earlier years, but from what I have seen he must have had an interest in electronics,” he said.

“It is in poor condition in terms of the exterior but if it is cleaned out, it would likely reveal a decent home.”