Catching fire: St Peters’ burnt offering

A fire damaged St Peters home will be auctioned this weekend.

The house at 81 Frederick Street, St Peters exhibits significant burns, with soot blackening the interiors and façade. Photos above show one room completely ruined, with a collapsed ceiling.

Selling agents Santos Sulfaro and Frank Sulfaro of Richardson & Wrench Leichhardt are expecting the home will attract around $650,000 when auctioned on Saturday morning by Damien Cooley.

The three bedroom, one bathroom house is being marketed as a blank canvas with renovation or development potential – albeit rather dramatically, as seen in the video titled Fire Sale below.

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The owner is reportedly a former IT worker who isn't able to claim insurance for the fire after allegations it was deliberately lit by an unidentified occupant who faces court next week, according to Domain. He paid $290,000 for the freestanding brick house in 1998.

Police confirmed to media a 55 year old man was due to appear in court on 1 December, facing charges of contravening an apprehended violence order and damaging a property by fire.

Above: The home in healthier condition, 2004.

According to the listing, despite "dramatic fire damage" to the hallway and one bedroom, the other areas are mostly only affected by soot.

The house, on 195 square metres, has a recently renovated bathroom, metal press ceilings, timber floors and tessellated tiles. Its $650,000 guidance prices it well below its neighbours – the median price of St Peters house in October was $1,212,000, according to RP Data. Last week, an unrenovated three bedroom brick home in St Peters sold for $800,000.