Airlie House, Yarraville sets record ahead of twin tunnel announcement

Airlie House in the Melbourne suburb of Yarraville set a recent record price when it sold for $3.28 million.

The heritage listed property at 31-33 Somerville Road sale price was $900,000 higher than the prior Yarraville record of $2.38 million set earlier this year at 82 Stephens Street.

It was known as Airlie House, then later The Elms due to the trees lining the property boundary.

The vine-covered four-bedroom home was built in 1859 by Footscray councillor, factory owner and solicitor Stephen Stephens.

The home was offered for sale for the first time in more than 70 years.

Yesterday the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that a three-kilometre twin tunnel will be built beneath the suburb of Yarraville, as part of a project to provide Melburnians a second river crossing to the West Gate Bridge.

The tunnel is longer than expected and forms part of the $5.5 billion Western Distributor project.

Rob Caniglia, the property’s listing agent from Nicholas Scott Real Estate Yarraville, said the new owner was weighing up their options for the site.

The 1866 square-metre site attracted interest from prospective medical and childcare centres as well as residential developers and private buyers.

At weekend auction 11 Neylon Strert, Yarraville sold for $1.48 million with the charming period home listed through Village Real Estate agent Huss Saad on the market at $1.35 million.

Three developers fought once it was on the market. The 870 sqm holding was offered for the first time since its 1954 construction.