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Updated June 13, 2026 — 4:33pm,first published 1:40pm
A three-bedroom bungalow in Essendon on an almost 900-square-metre block has sold for $1,845,000 to a developer planning to build townhouses on the site.
The property at 70 Cooper Street had been in the same family for generations, and was guided at $1.7 million to $1.8 million.
The house was displayed as lived-in, maintaining historic features like plush purple couches in the pink living room, a bright yellow kitchen complemented by Richmond Tigers premiership posters, and a vintage doll in the front bedroom.
At the auction on Saturday, Nelson Alexander auctioneer Matthew Febey opened bidding at $1.7 million. The price then shot up in $10,000 increments as three bidders pushed it past the $1.75 million reserve.
After hitting the $1.8 million mark, a fourth bidder – the eventual winner – started making decisive bids, forcing the underbidders to cede their ground.
The underbidders, a family, said they had simply been forced out, as “it got a bit too aggressive” for their budget.
Listing agent Jason Barbara said the buyers were planning to develop two townhouses on the site, and had negotiated a settlement for before the end of the financial year – just 17 days away.
The vendors, he said, were moving on to the next stage of their life and were thrilled with the result.
“For the times we’re in, the turnout today is a good indication that it’s not so bad out there,” Barbara said.
The property was one of 972 scheduled to go to auction in Melbourne this week.
In Strathmore, a mansion with five bedrooms, five bathrooms and 10 car parks sold for $5.3 million in post-auction negotiations, $200,000 below its reserve.
The French provincial-style estate at 37-39 Bournian Avenue, features gold-leaf ceilings, a double-height entrance, pool and al fresco area, and an ornate cinema room.
It had a price guide of $5.7 million to $6.2 million, and a reserve of $5.5 million.
McDonald Upton agent and auctioneer Milo Rasinac said bidding opened at $5.2 million, and two bidders competed before stalling at $5.25 million, where it was passed in.
He said the vendors “met the market” at $5.3 million in negotiations, realising it was “fair market value today”.
Rasinac said the home built just 17 years ago was high quality, with “so much money invested”. The vendors were downsizing, and the buyers were moving their large family into a home that met their needs.
An updated brick townhouse in Elsternwick passed in at $950,000 after just two vendor bids left the property $125,000 below the bottom of its range.
The mid-century, double-storey two-bedroom home at 3/33 Nepean Highway is on a service road along the major southern arterial. It had a price guide of $1,075,000 to $1.18 million, with a reserve of $1 million.
The property was freshly painted, has a new kitchen and bathroom, floating floorboards and a large courtyard.
Barry Plant Rowville agent and auctioneer Stan Michael said bidding opened with a vendor bid of $925,000 and another vendor bid pushed it up to $950,000, at which the property was passed in.
Michael said the agency had tried to convert the property to a private sale before going to auction, but the vendors – an older couple downsizing – were keen to test the market after the campaign.
Michael said it was a tough market for agents.
“It’s external factors, but it’s one of the only times when I’ve had so few sales as a listing agent,” Michael said. He urged vendors to listen to agents about the state of the market.
In Fitzroy, a “cosy” north-facing double-storey terrace sold for $1,332,000 at auction after four bidders pushed it more than $200,000 above the reserve.
In the heart of the suburb, 183 George Street features a lush garden in a large courtyard and character touches such as exposed brick walls. The two-bedroom property had a price guide of $1,050,000 to $1,150,000.
Nelson Alexander Fitzroy agent and auctioneer James Pilliner said the bidding opened at the bottom of the guide, increased in $10,000 increments and soared past the $1,125,000 reserve.
Bids trickled down to $5000 and $1000 increments after clearing $1.26 million, and the home sold to a local buyer. The house was sold as part of an estate.
Pilliner said it was rare to get a home in the price bracket and area with so much space.
In an otherwise fraught market, he put the result down to the “small differences” of the home, which while “a little dated” was light-filled, well laid out and “just really cosy”.
