Fashion designer Alannah Hill sells St Kilda West terrace

The acclaimed fashion designer Alannah Hill secured the sale of her chic white washed ST KILDA West terrace which went to weekend auction.

The turn of the century Boom Style Victorian home drew just the one bidder, with the Mary Street three bedroom house passed in at $2.325 million.

But Marshall White agents Adrian Wood and Michael Paproth sold it for an undisclosed higher price soon after.

Hill had paid $1,905,000 in 2013 then renovated the house in her signature style, draping it in marble, plenty of pink and chandeliers.

She was reluctantly selling because it was too big for her and her son.

Alannah took to Facebook to express her delight.

A $7.65 million sale of a heritage home in Hawthorn was the nation's top weekend auction result, on a weekend when Melbourne cemented its dominance over Sydney.

The four bedroom singe storey Lisson Grove had last sold 20 years ago at $1,225,250, reflecting close to 10 percent annual price appreciation.

There were extensive renovations in 2010 at the 1700 sq m property which came with tennis court.

After an opening bid of $6 million, there were the five bidders who took the offers to an on-the-market $6.7 million.

There had been seven bidders at its 1997 auction but only two were prepared to pay beyond $1.1 million.

Across Australia auction volumes rise to 2,407 returning an initial clearance rate of 69.6 per cent.

It is the third week in a row now where the combined capital city clearance rate has trended below 70 percent.

At the same time last year, auction volumes were lower than this week, with 2,183 properties taken to auction and a clearance rate of 67.4 percent.

The long weekend final clearance rate sat at 67.8 percent, recording the lowest clearance rate year to date, across the reduced holiday weekend 1,279 capital city auctions volume.

Sydney’s preliminary auction clearance rate was 72.4 percent this week, an improvement in the rate after last week’s final result saw the clearance rate drop to 67.7 percent.

"However as more results are collected it’s likely Sydney’s final clearance rate will again slip below the 70 percent mark," Kevin Brogan, the CoreLogic auction analyst said.

One year ago results show that 73.4 percent of Sydney homes taken to auction were successful, he noted.

Sydney's volumes were higher, up to 906 from 619 last week and one year ago when 768 Sydney homes were taken to auction.

The Eastern Suburbs sub-region of Sydney has shown the strongest performance so far this week, with 85 per cent of the 60 reported results selling including a $6 million South Coogee home, which sold for $2 million above reserve at 2 Denning Street. 

Melbourne’s auction results have also moderated, however the clearance rates remain well above 70 percent, "indicating some resilience in selling conditions relative to Sydney," CoreLogic's Kevin Brogan said.

Melbourne's preliminary auction clearance rate of 72.2 percent across 1,121 weekend auction included the nation's cheapest when $195,000 was paid for a one bedroom West Footscray flat.

The 16/7-9 Hatfield Court unit offered through Biggin & Scott last sold at $38,000 in 1997.

Last week, Melbourne’s final clearance rate was recorded at 75.9 percent across 389 auctions.

This time last year, 1,085 properties were taken to auction across Melbourne and a clearance rate of 68.3 percent was recorded.

Sales included The Seekers’ manager Graham Simpson and his writer wife Jacqui selling their Hampton home of 15 years for $2.1 million.

The Wave Street, Hampton 1911 Edwardian offering had three bidders who took the sale price $80,000 past reserve.

It last sold at $786,000 in 2002.

There were 150 Brisbane homes taken to auction this week, with a preliminary clearance rate of 49 per cent, down from 52.2 per cent last week but higher than one year ago, when 45.1 per cent of the 120 properties taken to auction were successful.

Brisbane's top sale was when $2.5 million was paid by southerners for 71 Ormadale Rd, Yeronga.

The architecturally designed contemporary home was set on a riverfront 959 sqm lot.

The buyers, Paul and Dawn Burgoyne had spent the past three weeks looking for a Brisbane base, seeking out Brisbane's forgiving cold season.

“Brisbane winters are just the best, so the plan is to basically run two homes — six month of the year up here and six months back home in Melbourne,” Mr Burgoine told The Courier Mail.