Woodville estate’s 135-year medical dynasty could end with sale

A grand “Gatsby-style’’ Woodville residence could be set for a significant changing of the guard, with its pending sale potentially ending a 135-year dynasty of medico owners.

While it’s hoped the sprawling 4600sqm corner property will be bought and retained in its current formation, selling agent Richard Colley, of Ennis Partners – North Adelaide, conceded the stately bluestone home had attracted the attention of developers.

Regardless of who buys it, the sale of 106 Woodville Rd, which has a price guide of $5m to $5.5m, is expected to set a whopping new benchmark for the north-western suburb – although in dollars per sqm terms would still be on par with Woodville’s average, Mr Colley said.

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The Woodville home at 106 Woodville Rd has been owned by six generations of local doctors.

It’s on the market with a $5m to $5.5m price guide.

It has eight bedrooms and four bathrooms.

“It (the price guide represents less than) $1200 a sqm, which is the average sqm price of Woodville – it’s just you are getting a lot of the suburb,’’ he said.

“But it does have the option that you could slice off (subdivide) some of it if you wanted to – it would be a shame to subdivide but it could still be done.’’

The home, which has retained its original ornate fireplaces, floorboards, plasterwork and chandeliers, was built in about 1890 for Dr Christian Bollen.

Since then, six generations of local doctors have made it their home, including the current vendor, who was the first doctor-owner to practise medicine off-site rather than use the original consulting rooms at the side of the house, Mr Colley said.

Five years ago, those rooms were converted to a self-contained flat – the former consulting rooms now two bedrooms and the waiting room restyled as a spacious living area.

The main home, which shares the same roofline and has a further six bedrooms, comes with a grand ballroom, expansive dining room and an underground cellar.

There is also a grass tennis court and a swimming pool.

“(The home) is just amazing – it’s a grand old dame that … in the history books was a well-known landmark,’’ Mr Colley said.

“A house with a ballroom is pretty unusual (nowadays). Can you imagine the band playing there and people spilling out to the back lawns?

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Parts of the home have been modernised.

The house is on a whopping 4600sqm block.

It’s sale is expected to set a price record for its suburb.

“It would have been one hell of a Gatsby-style house.’’

Mr Colley said interest had been from a mix of owner-occupiers and developers.

While the home is heritage-listed, the land could be subdivided to create an additional three allotments, whereby the house would still remain on a 2000sqm block, he said.

If an owner-occupier was the successful buyer, Mr Colley said another medical professional would likely write the home’s next chapter.

“It’s the medicos that have that kind of money (needed to purchase the property),’’ he said.

“The houses I sell in Medindie (where the median price is $3.4m) are all to double-income doctors.

“If he’s a radiologist and she’s an anaesthetist, they could be earning $3m a year and they’re the sort of people (with the incomes needed) to buy (pricer homes).’’

Woodville’s current residential benchmark is $2.75m, set earlier this year with the sale of a five-bedroom home on 1414sqm.

– by Lauren Ahwan

The post Woodville estate’s 135-year medical dynasty could end with sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.