First-time buyer snaps up former presbytery at five-way auction

The former Catholic presbytery at 3 Mercer St, Winchelsea, has sold for $515,000.

A quintet of buyers’ hunger to take a bite out of turning a 120-year-old former presbytery into a beautiful new home have earned a keen price a local Catholic Church.

The circa-1906 residence alongside four newly subdivided vacant blocks were carved out from the still operational St John the Baptist Church in Winchelsea.

Five bidders raised a hand for the 1237sq m property at 3 Mercer St, as the home was offered with a $440,000 reserve price.

It sold at the marathon auction for $515,000.

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The former presbytery was being sold for the first time in 120 years.

Hayeswinckle Highton agent Michelle Winckle said the rare Federation style dwelling had never been on the market before.

“It was full of character. It needed significant work done, yes, because it was a church’s house, so it needed to be turned into more of a home and it had been quite abandoned over the last few years,” Ms Winckle said.

“But the potential to renovate and restore a beautiful home was the main thing that the buyers fell in love with.

“And with the reserve of $440,000 all the first-home buyers within the area could see that they could pick up a beautiful character home on a 1200sq m block right near the river.”

Ms Winckle said the $400,000 to $440,000 guide represented the property’s land value, but it was a beautiful house to upgrade.

Several rooms have corner fireplaces.

The house is described as liveable but in need of work.

The weatherboard house retains original period features such as 3.7m ceilings, high skirting boards and ornate timber mantels.

A series of flexible rooms, including one with a bay window and a basic kitchen and meals area, sit off a wide central hallway.

There’s also scope to extend, subject to council approval, or add an outdoor entertainment area or garaging, taking advantage of the property’s rear access.

The property was nearly knocked down to a bidder for $485,000 before another emerged, adding $30,000 to the eventual sale price.

The is laced in original character details.

The property has rear access and an existing carport.

Ms Winckle said Winchelsea’s surf coast hinterland location had created a lifestyle hot spot.

“People that can’t afford the coastal areas, they can come 20 minutes to Winchelsea, which is half an hour to Geelong, Colac, Lorne, Torquay, Anglesea, Airey’s Inlet.

“It’s half an hour to everything – it’s so central – Winchelsea has got so much potential because it’s sitting right there.

“It’s easy to access Geelong on the ring road and it’s quick to access Melbourne and you’re getting a much larger block.

“You’ve still got the river, you’ve got a town that’s growing, so people are seeing more potential for growth there than possibly an area where Torquay has already been massively commercialised.”

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