Grand residence with a rich heritage

ALLINGTON, a grand residence in Newtown, has sold after more than a year on the market.

The property, at 274 Latrobe Tce, was built for Dr William Shaw in 1872 and has been recognised on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Selling agent, Michelle Winckle from Hayeswinckle, Highton has a special connection to the property — it was her grandparents’ home.

“It sold quite quickly in the end, [the buyer] wasn’t in the right position before that to do anything, but she loves the house and will keep it as a family home and retain it,” Ms Winckle said.

“My grandma is ecstatic, she’s so happy it’s gone to a lady with a family in Geelong and is quite excited that she’s passed it on to someone with a long history here.”

The property was on the market between $990,000 and $1.09 million, but the sale price has not been made public.

“My grandfather was born there as well, there were a lot of births, deaths and marriages in that house — she’s going to have a party before she goes, they used to have lots of parties there,” Ms Winckle said.

The large home is perfect for entertaining with six bedrooms over two floors.

Downstairs there is a formal lounge, dining and sitting room, as well as a small study and a living room at the western wing.

Upstairs are the living quarters and a central family bathroom and outside there is a large courtyard area and a shed and garage.

Aside from being steeped in Ms Winckle’s family history for 96 years, the property is also of local historical significance: Dr Shaw, for whom the residence was built, made significant contributions to the medical and public welfare of Geelong.

Its dichromatic brick facade was unusual at the time and was designed to mimic Italianate traditions.

GEELONG

BIDDING between a local couple and a Melbourne buyer drove the price for an unrenovated cottage near South Geelong station.

No. 135 Verner St, Geelong was hotly contested by five bidders, three of whom were quickly out of the race, according to Maxwell Collins, Geelong, agent Lois Wilson.

“The bidding opened at $400,000 at a vendor bid,” she said.

“We had five bidders in all, with two bidders taking over the $500,000 mark, finishing up at $521,000 to a young local couple moving from Leopold.”

The property was on the market in the high $400,000s. A determined Melbourne underbidder, wanting the property for its proximity to the train station, drove the price, but a final $1000 bid turned the tables for the young couple.

“They plan to renovate and extend,” Ms Wilson said.

“The big attraction was for commuters looking to travel. There was a mix between investors and first homebuyers looking at the property, and even the investors were saying they’d rent it out and move in a couple of years.”

The house has three bedrooms, a big backyard and off-street parking, all set on a 450sq m block.

LETHBRIDGE

DESPITE having great potential as a land bank, 2670 Midland Hwy, Lethbridge did not sell at auction over the weekend.

The 8ha property, Murrindindi, has three road frontages, including the Midland Highway, is watered by two dams, and also has an old house and shedding, with underground power connected.

Elders, Geelong, agent Ken Drysdale said the property passed in despite interest.

“The property passed in on a vendor bid, at $650,000, and is now on the market for $700,000,” he said.

A tree-lined drive leads into the property on the southern fence line, up to the old homestead which is at the back of the allotment.

The property is best suited to grazing, and is zoned within a low-density residential area — it has immediate development potential on the outskirts of Lethbridge.