Local buys freshly built Brighton bathing box

A Brighton local turned up to summer's first bathing box auction as a “tyre kicker”, but then spent $305,000 to buy it. 

Michael Abell was the only bidder for bathing box 76D.

He'd almost bought one 25 years ago for $15,000. 

Nick Johnstone Real Estate auctioneer Nick Johnstone wore boardshorts, thongs and a Santa hat for the occasion.

Johnstone made a $300,000 vendor bid before Abell's $305,000 offer.

The sale was negotiated after the property passed in. 

The bathing box was finished last month as part of a Bayside Council masterplan for the beachfront. 

The Herald Sun reported council’s corporate services director Jill Colson said there are no further plans for any more bathing boxes. 

A bathing box at 76C sold for $337,000 about 18 months ago close to the peak of the market, and 76B sold for $318,000 the same day.