9 The Esplanade, Geelong, sold for $2.375 million.
A couple’s “lucky” decision to take the scenic route to Geelong lead to the most expensive sale on The Esplanade in four years.
They were among three groups that bid for the four-bedroom house at 9 The Esplanade, Geelong, at Saturday’s online auction.
It sold for $2.375m, eclipsing the reserve price by $365,000.
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The 892sq m property opposite Griffins Gully Jetty offered for the first time in 60 years.
McGrath, Geelong agent Egle Skridulis said three bidders who registered for the online auction made 71 bids for the property.
The loungeroom offered bay views.
She said all three potential buyers — a local and two from out of town — planned to reside at the exclusive address, either renovating or potentially rebuilding on the prime location.
“At this stage, I think it is more a project to renovate,” she said.
“The location was paramount — being on the waterfront and being so close to the city.”
The original interior of the house has high ceilings, decorative plaster work and leadlight windows.
The house was laced with features like decorative ceilings.
The lounge room takes in bay views.
“It was very original, but it’s salvageable,” she said.
“Someone with a bit of love and money can have a beautiful home and it’s a really good block of land – 892sq m.
“The owners are happy that it goes to a family, rather than knocking it over the developer because they’ve got a lot of memories. It’s a beautiful property.”
The bathroom had been renovated.
The out-of-town buyers have business interest in Geelong, Ms Skridulis said.,
But if not for the signboard, the couple would have missed the auction.
“They took lucky turn that day to drive down The Esplanade,” she said.
“They drove down The Esplanade on Thursday, saw it, called me and I scheduled an appointment for the next day, that was it. They didn’t even know it was an auction.”
Serendipity: McGrath, Geelong agent Egle Skridulis said buyers discovered the auction of 9 The Esplanade when driving along Geelong’s waterfront last week.
Ms Skridulis said prime waterfront properties were rarely offered but always highly sought.
“You can get an apartment but you don’t have a backyard, you can’t put a pool in.
“They’re all the things they can have for their families. They come here for the lifestyle.”
The highest price paid for a house on The Esplanade was $3.2m in 2016, CoreLogic records show.
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