Ceramic artist’s Mordialloc home sells $75K over reserve

Ceramic artist Heather Fahnle and husband Manfred with Ray White The Bayside Group’s Aidan Oke after the $1.425m sale. Picture: Ray White Media

A Mordialloc townhouse designed by a ceramic artist and her husband just 100 metres from the beach has sold at auction, marking the end of a 27-year chapter for the owners.

Heather and Manfred Fahnle built the three-bedroom home at 1/10 Bay St in 1998 with help from an architect friend who was inspired by French industrial design.

It features high ceilings, timber finishes and walls of glass that flood the interior with natural light.

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Mrs Fahnle said the home was created to feel simple, calm and timeless.

“Those big industrial windows were our architect’s signature,” she said.

“They flood the space with sunlight and make the garden feel like part of the living room.

“It’s simple, elegant and very us.”

The light-filled dining zone opens to lush courtyards, with polished Sydney bluegum floors and maple accents adding warmth.

The upper terrace captures glimpses of the bay, a serene spot for morning coffee or sunset gatherings.

The property sold for $1.425m as three bidders contested Saturday’s auction.

Two couples went head-to-head from an opening bid of $1.3m before the hammer fell $75,000 above reserve.

“It’s bittersweet letting it go,” Mrs Fahnle said.

“Seeing a young couple with passion move in is uplifting. It feels like we’re passing the torch.”

The home’s living and dining zones open to landscaped courtyards featuring Mrs Fahnle’s own ceramic fish sculptures.

Designed in 1998 with a French-inspired industrial edge, the home combines glass, timber and light in timeless harmony.

A handcrafted ceramic sculpture by Heather Fahnle takes pride of place on the dining table, a nod to the artist’s creative touch throughout the home.

Polished Sydney bluegum floors and maple joinery complement a lime-green kitchen splashback and minimalist finishes throughout.

“Art is all about light,” she said.
“Inside there’s deliberate simplicity, no carpet, clean lines, so the architecture becomes a backdrop for creativity.”

Ray White Bayside Group agent Aidan Oke said the result showed the strength of the Mordialloc market, where demand for beachside homes continues to outstrip supply.

The contemporary bathroom continues the minimalist theme, with soft neutral tones and clean architectural lines.

Private courtyards and landscaped gardens create a peaceful retreat just moments from Mordialloc Beach.

“There are only a few hundred homes on the beach side of Nepean Highway, so scarcity drives fierce competition,” Mr Oke said.
“To see a 26-year-old townhouse push into the mid-$1.4ms when new builds nearby are $1.6m to $1.7m shows how tight the market is.”

Mr Oke said downsizers and empty-nesters dominated the campaign, drawn to Mordialloc’s cafe culture and walkability.

The spacious main bedroom opens to a balcony framed by sea breezes and leafy outlooks.

A vibrant lime-green splashback and stone benchtops bring playful colour to the open-plan kitchen.

“People can stroll to the beach, restaurants and the station. That lifestyle is priceless,” he said.

The Fahnles are relocating permanently to Phillip Island, where their holiday home, designed by the same architect, will become their new base.

“It’s about slowing down and embracing a more peaceful rhythm,” Mrs Fahnle said.
“I’ve already started teaching ceramics down there. It feels like the right next step.”

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