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4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

A grand Lockleys property has been given a stunning transformation and is the ultimate family home, its owners say.

Adrian and Kelly Manera bought the property in 2010, attracted by it’s prominence, size and location in the heart of the western suburbs.

“It’s quite a unique property on this side of town and it was so visually spectacular and such a solid build on a large block of almost 1500sqm – it was the perfect place to raise our young family,” Mr Manera says.

4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

“It gives them heaps of room to play and, being quite high up on the block and being fully fenced, it’s really safe and secure for the kids.”

The couple have renovated the home throughout, making it the perfect old-meets-new family entertainer.

“The exterior we haven’t touched – so the home is in it’s original state in that respect – but we’ve overhauled the kitchen which was a big task and we think is very special,” Mr Manera says. “There’s marble from Italy in there and the light fitting is Murano glass from just out of Venice which is just breathtaking. Then we’ve done some other things like painting, we’ve done up the backyard, laid aggregate at the side of the house – which has created a whole extra space for entertaining – all little aspects to make the home more contemporary and how we like to live our lives.

4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

“We entertain a lot and, pre-corona, we would host more than 100 people here easily and we’d have all the kid’ birthdays and special events here and the home is great for that.”

The home has up to five bedrooms – the master suite on the upper level and complete with a dressing room, a study and an ensuite. The other four are on the lower level, where you’ll also find a formal lounge, a family bathroom, a laundry and an open-plan kitchen, dining and family room that opens to a covered outdoor entertainment area that overlooks the rear yard.

“The 3.6m ceilings make the already large rooms seem even more spacious,” Mr Manera says. “We can have family and friends over and the adults can be in one wing of the house and the kids can be outside playing or eating in another area of the house, but you can still easily keep an eye on them.

4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

“The entrance – we put an outdoor setting out there and we’ll read the paper and have breakfast there because it’s so peaceful, and we’d start our Sundays that way.”

Mr Manera says the couple were careful to hold true to the spirit of the house and make sure any renovation they did did it justice.

“You have to be very mindful of that – because the house is so old and such an iconic property for this side of town – everyone I bump into knows the house I live in – so you don’t want to be the couple that stuffs it up. So that was always on our mind, but in saying that, I think we’ve got pretty good taste and our finger on the pulse with what looks nice.”

As much as they’ve loved the home, Mr Manera says the time has come to move across town to be closer to family.

4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

“To try and get something like this again is going to be near impossible,” he says.

“Plus, being close to the beach, the city and having the airport just up the road, because we travel a lot – it’s just such a fantastic location.

“It’s a lovely home and I hope whoever buys it has a great life here. I’d love to see a family buy it and see them grow up here over decades and really love what it has to offer.

“We’ve got fruit trees down the side of the house – mandarines, plums, lemons, olives, figs – my daughter can look out her window and see when the fruit’s ripe on the tree. That’s pretty special.”

4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

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4 Rowells Road, Lockleys. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly ReaI Estate.

4 Rowells Rd, Lockleys

Contact agent for price

Agent: Ouwens Casserly Real Estate, Dianne Ladhams 0419 818 461, Darren Ladhams 0412 615 953. Land size: 1448sqm. Offers: Close Tuesday, October 6 at 2pm.

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Real Estate Central agen Tom Kiem made his highest sale recently in his short two year career so far. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

A TOP End agent who recently made his biggest sale to date says the result shows Darwin’s property market is on the rise.

Real Estate Central sales professional Tom Kiem recently sold 43 Annaburroo Crescent, Tiwi for $720,000.

It was the highest sale of his short two-year career.

“This recent sale in Tiwi is a testament to our improving market,” he said.

Real Estate Central agen Tom Kiem made his highest sale recently in his short two year career so far. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

“(It) is proof that values are increasing and buyers aren’t prepared to miss out on a quality home. With tough competition in the market who knows if they’ll get the next one, by the time another one comes up the values may have increased and priced them out of the market.”

Mr Kiem pursued real estate after a career in tourism and said he enjoyed the dynamic and ever-changing market, which was continuing to head in a positive direction.

“This year we’ve experienced the first two consecutive quarters of growth in over half a decade – with the third quarter following the trend,” he said.

“With the lowest ever interest rates plus the government incentives, buyer demand is very strong and continuing to strengthen.”

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Adam Colless is an investor who has recently updated his property at 1/28 Brayshay Road, Newcomb to sell. It went on the market this week and has already attracted 10 groups to inspections. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Middle ring suburbs Newcomb and Herne Hill have joined inner city hot spots among Geelong’s hottest markets for houses.

New data measuring the city’s fastest-selling suburbs show homeowners in these areas are finding a buyer up to twice as quick than before the first COVID-19 lockdown in March.

Houses are moving fastest in Newcomb, where houses sell in a median 18 days, according to realestate.com.au time on market figures over 12 months to September.

That compares to 38 days recorded in March.

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Geelong, Grovedale, Herne Hill, Geelong West and Belmont were the next quickest, selling between 26 and 34 days, as time on market was cut in 17 suburbs.

Homeowner Adam Colless, who spent six weeks updating a Newcomb property ready for sale, got an immediate reaction from buyers this week.

“We gave it a full makeover, fixed it all up inside, all the accessories, new lights, painting, we pulled up the carpet and polished the floorboards,” he said.

“We’ve put in all new turf and fixed up the gardens.”

1/28 Brayshay Road, Newcomb, has been listed with a $439,000 to $469,000 price guide.

Buxton agent Tony Moorfoot launched 1/28 Brayshay Road, Newcomb on Monday and reported that 11 groups had inspected by Wednesday.

“I thought was a lot considering it was mid week,” Mr Colless said.

“That’s pretty good feedback from the outset.”

Also rising are “off-market” sales, where agents sell to their databases before listed publicly.

Barry Plant, Highton agent Kieron Hunter said the low stock for sale during the pandemic meant buyers were keen to act fast.

114 Weller Street, Geelong West, sold for $1.2 million after three days on the market.

“We’re up to one a week for the past six weeks,” he said.

“It’s the highest volume of off-market sales we’ve been doing. We used to do one a month.”

But the data shows properties took longer to sell in markets more reliant on buyers from Melbourne, including Lara and Norlane and expensive suburbs like Newtown and Barwon Heads.

Buxton, Newtown agent Ben Riddle said the pandemic highlighted how big a role Melbourne buyers — many absent due to the stage four lockdown — played in Geelong.

Four days: 41 Itkeston Street, Herne Hill, sold after four days on the market, CoreLogic records show.

“Stock from $500,000 to $600,000 is still finding competition, yet a house between $1 million to $2 million in Newtown is less likely to have that kind of engagement,” he said.

“There’s no question that Geelong interest can fill the cheaper price brackets quite easily, but we’re finding Newtown, Geelong West, East Geelong, especially the top-end stuff, is a lot more reliant on Melbourne interest than we actually thought.”

Fellow Newtown agent Tom Butters said people booking inspections had genuine intentions of buying.

First open: 61 McDougall Street, Geelong West sold for $595,000 after the first open.

“For example, Herne Hill property at the moment, we put them on the market and we have 25 groups who want to get through it straight away and they’re local,” he said.

“In between lockdowns, we would have had 50 to 80 people in a two-week campaign.”

McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said some buyers were purchasing sight unseen, but used building inspectors and buyer’s advocates, or families to inspect properties.

“People are buying sight unseen with the right information and the right processes in place,” he said.

1/1 Pitman Street, Newcomb, sold for $431,000 after 10 days on the market.

Geelong building inspector Graeme Boyd, who operates a Jim’s franchise, said business was up compared to last year, and he spent talking with clients starved for information.

“What we’ve discovered in past two years is we’ve got far more Melbourne buyers than we’ve ever had before and they all get building inspections,” he said.

“They’re asking me far more questions than about the condition of the building, it’s more like you’re giving them a general overview of the street, of the houses next door.”

Nine days: 44 Catherine Street, Geelong West, sold for $600,000.

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Sold – 12 Karuah Rd, Turramurra.

If you have been thinking about finding a new home in time for a socially distanced Christmas celebration, you might want to get serious.

Because there are now just 92 days until Christmas Day.

“There is no time to waste,” said Tim Fraser, of Di Jones North Shore – Wahroonga.

“If people want to be in for Christmas they need to be looking now. And if they find something they like, snap it up.”

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Although numbers have improved since the start of spring, the upper north shore is still feeling the pinch of a stock shortage.

More buyers are expected to join the hunt in the weeks ahead, looking to position themselves close to upper north shore private schools well in time for the start of the 2021 school term.

“It happens around this time every year,” Mr Fraser said.

“It means that the good properties in the prime positions go very quickly.”

12 Karuah Rd, Turramurra.

Love it!

A good example of this was Mr Fraser’s fast sale of 12 Karuah Rd, Turramurra.

The luxury tennis court estate was supposed to go to auction this weekend, but lasted only 14 days on the market before a buyer made the long-term owners an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Mr Fraser said he could not comment on the sale price, however it is believed to have sold for around the $6 million guide.

He did confirm it was the top price paid in Turramurra for 2020.

Whether it is a street and suburb record won’t be known until settlement, and it’s anyone’s bet. The street record was set in 2019 with the sale of 4 Karuah Rd for $5.7 million, according to CoreLogic.

The suburb’s residential sale record sits at $6 million, set in 2016 with the sale of 41 Ku-ring-gai Ave.

The result is sure to bolster Turramurra’s already strong performance in the patchy Sydney market.

A lot has changed in Turramurra in that time. Ten years ago the median house price was $1.035 million. That has more than doubled to $2.105 million in 2020.

According to realestate.com.au’s latest Market Trends report, the suburb’s median house price has grown by 14.4 per cent in the past 12 months.

COOKING UP A STORM

Newly minted and rebranded McGrath St Ives agent Daniel Cook has wasted no time in making his presence known under his new banner.

In his first week he made three sales, two of them in the same street.

No. 25 Athena Ave, a five-bedroom house on 980sqm sold for more than its $2.35 million guide, while up the road, No. 38 Athena Ave, sold for more than it’s guide of $1.9 million.

“Both of them sold above their guides prior to auction,” Mr Cook said. “Buyers are still complaining about the lack of stock and they are moving quickly when they can find something.”

25 Athena Ave, St Ives.

38 Athena Ave, St Ives.

Mr Cook completed the trifecta with the sale of 1 Ross Place, North Wahroonga, for an undisclosed price. All three sales were negotiated by Mr Cook and his colleague Michael Crawshaw.

The newly branded agency continues the partnership between Mr Cook and his father Mark Cook.

Between them they have decades of local real estate experience – spanning 30 years for Mark, and 17 years for Daniel.

Their early success will no doubt be music to the ears of McGrath founder and executive director John McGrath.

“We have long regarded Sydney’s northside as aspirational with a wide appeal to families wanting to experience a lifestyle in areas that offer great recreational facilities, yet be close to schools and other important infrastructure,” Mr McGrath said.

“The St Ives region we believe has great appeal with its distinctive village vibe, deep sense of community in a beautiful leafy setting, and importantly has the opportunity for capital growth over the next few years.”

RESERVE TUMBLES

The upper north shore notched up another strong auction clearance result last weekend of 84 per cent, with agents reporting big numbers and strong prices.

Carole McCrea, of McConnell Bourne, sold a four-bedroom family home at 35 Kippara St, West Pymble under the hammer for $390,000 above reserve.

35 Kiparra St, West Pymble.

The two-storey home was given a reserve of $2.05 million, eight bidders registered for a chance to buy.

After an intense bout of bidding, the property sold for $2.44 million.

Ms McCrea said there had been strong interest in the property, with 160 groups inspected the property in the lead-up to the auction,

“The eventual selling price was an added bonus to a very efficient campaign,” she said.

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Owner Graeme Anderson is selling his home at 28 Nelson St, Gordon, after 55 years.

More than half a century has passed since Graeme Anderson stood in an auction room in the city to throw his hat in the ring for a sprawling estate in Gordon known as Trenayr.

But the 91-year-old remembers it like it was yesterday.

Mr Anderson and his wife Jean were living in nearby Pymble at the time, in a typical three-bedroom home.

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With four children in tow, the family home was bursting at the seams and needed more space.

He was hunting around the area when he came upon Trenayr at 28 Nelson St.

Owned by NSW Supreme Court Judge Martin Hardie, he was very keen on the property, if a little perturbed by the price guide of 50,000 pounds.

“The one I was selling (in Pymble) was about 22,000 pounds,” he said. “But I decided to go into town to the auction anyway. I put in the opening bid of 36,000 pounds.

“There were no other bids so it was knocked down to me for 36,000 pounds.”

Grand manor – 28 Nelson St, Gordon.

Original style.

With the deal done on the 3495sqm property, Mr Anderson was then faced with another challenge – calling his wife to tell him what he had just done.

“I was still in town and I needed to find a phone and I had a Dodge car so I drove to the dealer and said I needed a service, and could I also use their phone,” he said.

“I called my wife and said darling, I’ve just bought a house.

“Her first question was ‘does it have hot water?’.

“I said I wasn’t sure but that if it didn’t I would put in.”

Trenayr has been the Anderson family home ever since.

Mrs Anderson passed away in 2002, and with their children now grown and living in other areas of Sydney, the time has come for Mr Anderson to downsize.

The home has been lovingly maintained over the years but remains in largely original condition.

The dining space.

Family friendly.

About eight years ago, Mr Anderson (pictured inset outside his home) stripped the external paint right back to the original layer, and repainted it in that colour.

The engineer, who has held many different jobs over the years, including 10 years as chairman and managing director of Otis Lifts, has also added his own touches to the property.

He enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, architect Robert Woodward, who designed the famed El Alamein Memorial Fountain in Kings Cross.

The fountains Mr Anderson built over the pool.

Traditional gardens surround the home.

The dandelion-inspired design has become one of the world’s most copied, and won Mr Woodward the NSW Institute of Architects Civic Design Award in 1964.

Mr Woodward shared his designs for the fountain, as well as the New South Wales Parliament House Courtyard Fountain he created in 1983.

Mr Anderson spent years painstakingly recreating both fountains, which are installed above the swimming pool at Trenayr.

Interestingly, the pool was one of the earliest pools to be build on the north shore and is believed to have been build before 1939.

A cubby house was added in 1965 – the year the Andersons arrived – using packing cases from the Allis Chalmers Tractor dealership. It is one of the few buildings in Nelson St without a heritage listing, according to Mr Anderson.

With five bedrooms and four bathrooms, the home proved to be the perfect family home, and the family had no desire to move anywhere.

But Mr Anderson had started thinking about downsizing to his holiday home on the Central Coast when a huge storm hit the north shore late last year, damaging a stand of four massive trees at the front of the property.

All four trees had to be removed, and the front fence was rebuilt. For Mr Anderson it was a sign.

“It’s been home for such a long time, and there are so many memories,” he said.

“But it’s time to move on, and let someone else enjoy it. The house is without a doubt the prettiest house in Nelson St.”

McGrath Lindfield agent Glenn Curran and the owner of 28 Nelson St, Gordon, Graeme Anderson, outside the home.

The home is in original condition but has been lovingly maintained.

No other owner of the property has come close to owning the property as long as the Andersons. Judge Hardie came the closest – and he lived there for 14 years.

The property comes to market this week, with Glenn Curran, of McGrath Lindfield. He is selling the property by expressions of interest, with a guide of $8.5 million.

Mr Curran expects the property will attract a lot of attention from local and out-of-area buyers – especially families looking for a substantial estate they could put their own stamp on.

“It is one of the last remaining, untouched tennis court estates like this in the area,” he said. “It presents someone with a beautiful opportunity to do it justice.

“It’s original in its proportions and its layout on the block is perfect.”

Inspections will be by conducted by private appointment. For more details contact Mr Curran.

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26 Somerville Street. Sorell. Picture: SUPPLIED

THIS magnificent mid-1800s dwelling has carved its place in Tasmanian history.

Lauded as the most historically significant building in Sorell, it is one of only a handful of Italian-Georgian buildings in Hobart.

Heritage listed and located within a quiet street of Sorell, the property is minutes’ drive from the Hobart Airport or 20 minutes to Hobart’s CBD. Richmond and the Coal Valley’s wine region is on its doorstep.

Opportunity abounds here in this grand residence while glimpses of the home’s rich, colonial history are found around every corner.

It has high ceilings and polished timber floors, with a combination of Tasmanian oak, cedar, Huon pine and blackwood held together by handmade convict nails. There are ornate mantles, decorative cornices and functioning fireplaces throughout.

Hello there. Come right in.

Every room has wow factor.

On entry, a guest reception with magnificent woodwork provides passage to the dining room, once serving as the Blue Bell Inn’s original bar.

The sub-floor cellar, spanning the length of the room below, has its own private entrance from the street.

There are three generous bedrooms on the lower level, each with an ensuite or private bathroom, and one featuring a spa. The first floor, via the central staircase, features three bedrooms, each with an ensuite.

A majestic ballroom provides opulent living space for guests.

Sophistication and style.

So gorgeous!

Ascending another staircase, the expansive attic offers an abundance of space to develop into additional rooms, or to use for storage. Returning to the ground floor, the garage has been stylishly repurposed into self-contained accommodation with a luxurious bathroom featuring a French bath and an open shower, a large bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, an office and a loungeroom.

There is a new commercial kitchen equipped with a five-burner gas stovetop, industrial oven, dishwasher, plus a stainless-steel island bench with an in-built fridge.

The grounds of the historic estate have been extensively landscaped.

Fruit trees dotted throughout complement blooming florals.

Modern upgrades for contemporary living have been carried out without disturbing the property’s old-world charm and character, including rewiring for three-phase power requirements, wool carpet and plumbing.

It’s a stunner.

Warm and welcoming.

For more than 150 years, this impressive residence has housed magistrates, WW1 soldiers, seen convicts granted their freedom, acted as a maternity ward and hospital and a bed and breakfast.

No.26 Somerville Street, Sorell is listed with Charlotte Peterswald for Property and priced at $1.1 million-plus.

The post If only the historic Blue Bell Inn’s walls could talk appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Justin and Rosalie Lodge with their children, Matthew, Isaac and Hugo outside their Clare home. Picture by Matt Turner.

BOOMING tourism and wine industries, and the recent coronavirus lockdowns, are driving the Clare Valley real estate market, with local agents reporting an increase in inquiries in the picturesque region.

Nutrien Harcourts real estate specialist Geoff Knappstein said many buyers had experienced a shift in mindset about how they wanted to live, and were now considering living further out from the city and working remotely.

“We’ve had a massive increase in inquiry from people outside of Clare looking to buy in our region,” Mr Knappstein said.

“It’s a very constant market up here. We’re not far from Adelaide and you’ve got everything up here – plenty of wineries and restaurants. It’s just a good place to be.

“There are some people who live in Clare that make a daily commute to the city for work, because if you’re coming from Sydney, a two-hour trip is nothing.”

Mr Knappstein said the region’s agricultural market was particularly strong.

“We’ve got more buyers than properties and these properties go very quickly,” Mr Knappstein said.

Realestate.com.au data shows the Clare and Gilbert valleys have historically demonstrated slow and steady price growth, with houses up by a moderate 2.8 per cent over the past year, 4.4 per cent over the past three years, and 3.9 per cent over the past five years.

Of the 150 sales in the region over the past 12 months, the median sale price was $277,500. Houses commanded a median weekly rent of $280 and delivered a rental yield of 5.43 per cent.

Happy homeowners Justin and Rosalie Lodge with their children, Matthew, Isaac and Hugo outside their Clare home. Picture by Matt Turner.

Ray White Clare Valley principal Mark O’Meagher said, in light of recent lockdowns, many buyers were keen to get out of the suburbs and into a rural community.

“We’ve seen an increase based purely, I think, on people feeling safer in a regional area,” he said.

“Inquiries have increased dramatically since April and May, and we’re also seeing a massive increase in land sales on the back of the recent government grants.

“We’ve also seen a lot of city-dwellers and interstaters buying sight unseen because they’re impressed by the dollar value.

“For some of them, it was a move they were going to do years down the track, but then with the recent COVID impact, it’s brought that decision-making process forward.”

High school teacher Justin Lodge and his family bought a home in Clare five years ago and said they loved the region. “We were able to buy a four-bedroom home in a place for us that was pretty much perfect, and our mortgage repayments are actually less than what we were paying in rent prior to that – and that was even with us being in subsidised teacher housing,” Mr Lodge said.

“That fact alone was probably enough to give us the impetus to buy.

“We were from the Adelaide Hills and to get what we have here back there would have cost us more than $100,000 more.

“Plus Clare is a nice town to live in, with lots of young families.”

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