A buyer has splashed close to $5m on a Port Melbourne landmark without setting foot inside.
The dream home at 1 Beaconsfield Parade sold after just 31 days on the market, during a campaign held entirely during stage four lockdown restrictions.
Kay & Burton Port Phillip agent Melissa Grinter said the waterfront wonder sold for an undisclosed price, “towards the top end” of the $4.5-$4.95m price guide.
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1 Beaconsfield Parade, Port Melbourne sold sight unseen.
The elegant property sold for close to $5m.
“It was a virtual sale to a local family who were familiar with the property, so we basically did videos of all the internals and talked them through all the way,” Ms Grinter said.
“They were happy to buy it because they didn’t want to miss out … it’s going to become their family home.”
The family had seen the Victorian charmer from the road, but had not stepped inside before putting down an offer.
Views across the bay don’t get any better.
The old-world home was bought by a local family.
Ms Grinter said there was “enormous inquiry” from buyers, who had always known the landmark listing from its incredible facade. Most were waiting for the private inspections ban to be eased so they could walk through the property before making an offer.
“Who knows what result we could have had if we waited, but the vendor was happy with the offer that was presented to him and accepted,” Ms Grinter said.
“And now that restrictions have been extended again I think it was a very good move.”
The main living room inside the home.
An elaborate bedroom is like a step back in time.
The five-bedroom property was sold by Circa Property developer Michael Stokie, who restored the Victorian heritage facade and added a second residence inside the building about 20 years ago.
Mr Stokie said the property was a “dump” before the complete transformation, where he added old-world wallpaper, marbled columns, chandeliers and gold leaf finishes to the traditional section of the home.
“Everything in the place is brand new, from the floorboards, plastering, skirtings and mantelpieces,” Mr Stokie said.
“It didn’t take long to do that work, but it took nearly 12 months to paint the wallpaper and to do all the gold leaf.
The modern self-contained residence
The flexible floorplan attracted plenty of interested parties.
“I used to live in both parts of the house, then I lived in just the modern section for a while, but when I got sick of that I lived in the Victorian part.”
The second self-contained residence, which has its own kitchen, dining and living space, offers a far more contemporary look.
Mr Stokie said he had enjoyed being able to shift between two eras inside the one building, but it was now time to downsize.
Ms Grinter said the flexible floorplan had attracted many buyers to the home.
Other highlights include an elegant main living room, timber kitchen with Miele appliances, a lift to all four floors of the home, a backyard spa, and panoramic views of the bay from a glass-enclosed veranda.
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