Former premier Ted Baillieu’s love for the Geelong Football Club is legendary, and on face value, the nameplate on his home doffs a cap to the team from Kardinia Park.

But the name on the Baillieu family home of 27 years in Calvin St, Hawthorn, actually has links to a Geelong era that stretches beyond even the establishment of the venerable football club to one of this region’s earliest leading citizens.

Dr Alexander Thomson established the original Kardinia property on the southern bank of the Barwon River when the Geelong district was still in it infancy, serving as a member of the parliament of NSW before resigning in 1844 in protest at having to travel to Sydney for sittings.

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Mr Baillieu said when he bought the Hawthorn home he thought it serendipity when he discovered it was named Kardinia, given his fondness for the Cats.

But his further research uncovered the true connections to Geelong for the home he describes as “the other Kardinia”.

Kardinia is a Wadawurrung word meaning sunrise, dawn or new beginning.

Mr Baillieu said the Hawthorn Kardinia was named in honour of Dr Thomson’s Geelong property when it was built in the 1890s.

“His daughter Jane married Henry Creswick – who became Sir Henry Creswick – and Henry in the mid-to-late 1840s bought the first house east of the Yarra, which is a bluestone house called the Hawthorns,” Mr Baillieu said.

“Henry and Jane had a bunch of kids and their first child Catherine married a guy named Talbot Hamilton, and they were all jammed in to the original property, so Henry and Jane built this house for Catherine and Talbot and called it Kardinia. It’s right on the top of Hawthorn Hill.”

Mr Baillieu has put the home on the market with $9m- $9.9m hopes.

The three-storey mansion has an expansive, six-bedroom, five-bathroom floorplan courtesy of a renovation about 17 years ago that opened up the spectacular views.

“I came and just walked in and walked straight out again,” Mr Baillieu said. “As I was an architect in another life, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

“It was rundown but on top of the hill, it faces west with a dress circle view of the greatest show on earth, which is the city of Melbourne with all the weather coming.

“I sat down at the table, opened the documents for the first time and saw it was called Kardinia. I thought this was meant to be.”

Dr Thomson became Geelong’s first mayor in 1851, when Kardinia was still a timber slab house, having been one of the leading citizens pushing for an independent Victorian colony.

Heritage reports show Dr Thomson, who was born in Scotland in 1798 and arrived in Victoria via Tasmania in 1836, constructed the first stone part of the house in the early 1850s. He died in 1866.

He served several terms as mayor, was elected to state parliament and was a director of the Geelong-Melbourne Railway Company, whose line was completed in 1857.

The original stone house is still present, though subsequent owners, including two former mayors added extensions and renovations in the 1860s and 1880s to create the mansion seen at 1 Riverview Terrace today.

The Salvation Army ran a children’s home at Kardinia between 1947 and 1986, before disability service provider GenU (and its predecessor Karingal), used it as its head office.

Geelong developer Fathom Group is working through a planning application for a $14.6m project to subdivide the property, restoring and renovating the original house as a private home with gardens fronting the river.

Mid-century buildings near the house would be demolished and 34 townhouses built in six blocks at the rear of the homestead, two of which would face Riverview Terrace.

Fathom Group director John Grigg said the developers were working through a cultural heritage management plan process before a permit could be approved.

Kardinia Park didn’t come into being until 1872, and Geelong Football Club didn’t call it home until the 1940s.

The post Former premier Ted Baillieu reveals link to the ‘other Kardinia’ appeared first on realestate.com.au.

An investor has snapped up an outback home for just $68,000 in a hotly contested auction, marking the cheapest sale across Australia during the month of August.

The Broken Hill property sold for one third of the price of a median house in the outback NSW town, and 13 times less than the national house price, which hit a record $924,000 in August according to PropTrack.

A roundup of Australia’s cheapest home sales last month reveals a mixed bag of properties, and a common theme in their advertising was buyers would need to take them on “as is”.

From mould infestations, abandoned cottages and a house full of furnishings and random items, here is a glimpse at some of Australia’s cheapest house sales in August: 

Broken Hill bargain

“Ready for a transformation” was a rather apt depiction of this three bedroom 1920s home in Broken Hill, which sold for $68,000, placing it in the top five cheapest home sales in the country for August.

Set on a 505sqm landholding, 528 Lane Lane, Broken Hill was snapped up at auction, where five registered bidders vied for the listing.

Sales agent Mitchell Halpin from First National said the property sold to an investor who planned to restore and then sell.

“It needed to be renovated front and back and I suppose at that price point where they are, it’s still viable for investors to do it, because there is still money be made, and in Broken Hill renovated stuff always goes really well for either rental, or for sale,” he said.

 “Anything really under that $100,000 price point buyers are always very excited about it, because there’s money I suppose to be made from them.”

Ripe for renovation

On the other side of town, another keen renovator snapped up this Broken Hill fixer-upper for $78,000 with plans to extend and modernise its dated and dilapidated interior.

Selling at auction, the “perfect canvas” two bedroom home at 167 Piper Street was advertised as offering scope to “renovate, extend, or reimagine entirely.”

Mr Halpin also sold this home, noting money is to be made by those who can roll up their sleeves.

“It seems there is still money to be made by doing the renovations I suppose, and that type of stuff is appealing to people that are handy, or do have a trade background, because they can do a lot of the work themselves, as trades are so hard to get here in town.”

Chairs, crockery and wheelchairs all included

Victoria’s cheapest home sale was a deceased estate that was sold on one condition – that the new owner take all of the home’s contents, including wheelchairs, kitchen appliances, white goods, to name just a few.

Selling for $105,000, the weatherboard two bedroom, two bathroom cottage was advertised with a disclaimer that the “property would need a significant amount of money spent on it to comply with the minimum standards for rental properties in Victoria.”

It also noted that there had been evidence of termites in the front porch of the approximately 90- year-old residence.

Sales agent John Hadley from NorthWest Real Estate said taking on all the belongings and the home’s array of furniture was not a deterrent for the owner who planned to renovate it and live there.

“The executor of this estate lives in New South Wales up the other side of Sydney, and she’s elderly, so she just couldn’t get down to do anything about cleaning out the house, so just sold it walk-in, walk-out,” he said.

Large shed… and a house

With an intriguing headline advertising this listing as a ‘large shed with concrete floor,’ this one bedroom property in the South Australian town of Port Pirie was snapped up for $105,000.

Earning the accolade of the cheapest property to change hands in South Australia last month, 14 Edward Street, Port Pirie featured a huge garage/workshop with power.

Set on an 800sqm landholding, the listing noted that the one bathroom home was not connected to the sewer system which “should be considered when exploring its potential.”

Bankruptcy sale with renovation works abandoned

The buyer of this “renovator ready” home in Narembeen in WA’s Wheatbelt had been given a head start on the mammoth tasks needed to bring it back to life.

Walls and ceilings in the midst of removal, and sans flooring in many rooms was the state this three bedroom, one bathroom home at 21 Currall Street, Narembeen was presented for sale in.

Sales agent Lindsay Willock from Elders Real Estate Lake Grace said the home was listed for sale as a bankruptcy estate, and attracted a fair amount of buyer interest.

“The cheaper houses are attracting a lot of attention at the moment,” he said.

 “I think it’s just because it’s a lot cheaper than living in the city.”

The home sold for $85,000.

Trashed home an ‘almighty mess’

The buyers of this trashed three bedroom home in the rural Queensland town of Chillagoe have a big task ahead of them

With rubbish and broken furniture strewn throughout the home, the listing made it clear that 36 Queen Street, Chillagoe was being sold “as is” and needed cleaning out, a new paint job, new windows and electrical works.

“The owner didn’t live in Chillagoe and he had it rented. They [ex-tenants] didn’t pay rent and left it in an almighty mess,” sales agent Kendall Booth from @realty said.

Despite the immense renovation needed, the home sold for $88,888.

Abandoned cottage to be given new lease on life

A completely unliveable, five bedroom Queenstown cottage that is believed to have sat idle for up to 10 years, was Tasmania’s cheapest sale at $90,000.

The dire conditions of 17 Preston Street also made it impossible to advertise any interior photos, sales agent Rodney Triffett from Harcourts West Coast said.

“It was very dark, very mouldy in there… the camera that I had, you weren’t able to get presentable photos,” he said.

Mr Triffett was unsure of the home’s history and said it did take some time to sell.

“Thankfully we got there in the end, because it was quite a beautiful house – it was just in quite a poor condition,” he said.

The new owners have plans for a complete renovation, Mr Triffett said.

The post 5 bidders battle it out for Australia’s cheapest home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Iona is one of Sydney’s most talked about estates, thanks to the Hollywood royalty who once called it home, its picturesque period facade and it’s enviable location in the heart of Darlinghurst.

Today, the former residence of Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin is about to make headlines again; this time for its multimillion-dollar discount.

Launched to market by the current owners exactly a year ago, Iona had a price guide of $40m.

Now the Darley St mansion has resurfaced in a new campaign with a change of agents and a very different looking guide of $27m.

Vendors Tim Eustace, who is Mercury Private’s principal adviser, and his partner Salvador Panui, have put their own stylish stamp on iconic Iona since buying it from the Luhrmann-Martins for $16m in 2015.

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The new agents are Maclay Longhurst, Harriet France and Clint Ballard of Sotheby’s.

The $13m adjustment is more in line with today’s market, the agents say.

Ballard admits a landmark address such as Iona proves challenging to price.

“These types of trophy properties are very hard to position,” he said.

“It’s very easy to look back retrospectively and think a price was over or under, but at the end of the day the previous sales campaign didn’t come to a conclusion.

“So, we’ve set a different course and we want to put it in a competitive environment.

“We wanted to recalibrate the property, and say to the market, ‘Look, it’s a genuine sale.’

“The guide we’ve set of $27m is a very compelling guide.

“We believe it should create a lot of interest and the owners are looking to move on with their lives.”

The seven-bedroom, seven bathroom Italianate manor sits on a huge 2716sqm block, which is massive considering its inner-city location.

“The owners have put a lot of trust in our team. Harriet’s got the history with having sold the home once before and Maclay’s dynamic sales skills will see to a fantastic campaign,” says Ballard.

The current owners modernised several elements of the 22-room house, specifically the kitchen which has undergone an complete transformation.

During their time at the 2716sq m property, they also nurtured the expansive landscaped gardens to render the estate more private.

While the Hollywood heavy weights owned Iona, they ran their successful production company Bazmark from the address and conceived cinematic blockbusters including The Great Gatsby and Australia in the ground floor office.

Back in the early 2000s, VIP guests of the Luhrmann-Martins included married couple at the time, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, as well as her Moulin Rouge co-star Ewan McGregor.

Later, The Great Gatsby stars such as Toby Maguire and Joel Edgerton also partied in the elaborate mansion.

In 2016, Iona hosted the glamorous Sydney Children’s Hospital Silver Party attended by local celebrities such as Jesinta Franklin, Terry Biviano and Anthony Minichello, and Jodi Gordon.

The film-making couple had purchased Iona in 2006 for $10m from Jan Gowrie-Smith, the former wife of entrepreneur Ian Gowrie-Smith. Prior to buying it, the couple rented the residence for nine years.

Iona has a long history with high net worth owners. Once the site of the much smaller Iona Cottage, the larger original estate known as Darlinghurst Heights was subdivided in 1845. Wealthy pastoralist Edward Chisholm eventually built the ‘new’ Iona in 1888 which went on to also be used as a private hospital.

It was later slated for demolition in the 1970s, but was saved and placed on the National Trust’s heritage list in 1976.

Behind the stately gates, which once hung at Grosvenor House in London, the large ground level floor plan features the original footprint with additions taking the total to 1035sq m of living space. Meticulously restored, and updated with 21st Century luxuries, there are still numerous period touches such as elaborate stained glass windows and ornate 4.3m high ceilings. Contemporary updates include bespoke wallpaper designed by Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin.

Downstairs formal spaces include a large drawing room, a sitting room and a billiards room, all with classic fireplaces and doors to the traditional wraparound veranda, sprawling grounds and 20m pool.

The same level has a home office, gym, casual family area, an open plan dining zone and commercial-grade kitchen with full butler’s pantry.

Up on the accommodation level there are all seven bedrooms and a library. The main suite has a bay window, balcony, and a dressing room with a fireplace.

Other bedrooms have ensuites and built-in wardrobes, while one nursery-style room has a private kitchenette.

Additional features at Iona include a separate self-contained apartment with balcony, a wine cellar with cool room, multiple storage rooms, and two street entries.

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The post Baz Luhrmann mansion’s whopping $13m price drop appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Given the wave of first home buyers that should be out looking for their first home and ready to sign a contract come the October 1, I thought it might be prudent to do a quick look around for what one such buyer might find in their search in the current market.

It has felt tight on stock for a while, with little choice and plenty of competition, but I thought it might be worth looking at the actual numbers out there to see what the reality is today, particularly at a price point which for most people might see fairly achievable for a detached house – $500,000.

Casting back all of five years ago, that was a flash brand new home in a lot of suburbs, and a less than decade old executive residence in many others.

What does that budget find you today?

Starting my search with realestate.com.au, searching Cairns from top to toe with no filter other than price, yielded 23 results. Total.

Across all suburbs, which apparently includes Kuranda, Aloomba, Babinda and as far south as East Russell.

Snipping that back to the more traditional Palm Cove to Gordonvale and we drop to less than a dozen.

Narrow that further to actual detached houses, rather than villas in a body corporate or half a duplex, and that leaves six houses.

One of those doesn’t have a kitchen, bathroom or internal walls, which probably takes it off the list for most buying their first home – so call it five.

That’s tight, then cinching the belt another four notches after.

If you’re after a home with your own backyard, no body corporate and a less than half hour commute, you’re in for an adventure when it comes to getting on the property ladder for under half a million. Phew.

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Absent a time machine, what are your options then?

Opening up your options to units (of all sizes and ilks) adds about 100 properties to the list, but many of these are one bedroom, studios or not suitable for owner occupation. Serviceability (your ability to pay off a given loan) notwithstanding, this is where the broadened deposit guarantee scheme is going to be very important.

The difference in deposit between a $500,000 home and a $600,000 home is going to be $5000. That’s it.

Still a sum to save, and paying interest on an extra $100,000 is nothing to be scoffed at, but the pace of the market is well and truly outrunning income growth (and there’s no signs of that changing).

In the meantime, if the budget is tight and you’re determined house-first. Be prepared, and be quick.

The post What a $500,000 home budget can get you in Cairns appeared first on realestate.com.au.