Malvern East trophy home Harleston Firs sold

Malvern East trophy home Harleston Firs sold
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020

A majestic Malvern East mansion, once-owned by Little River Band guitarist Beeb Birtles, sold for more than $6 million at auction – a whopping discount of about $2 million from its initial price.

The vendors of the circa 1905 five-bedroom, four-bathroom house at 10 Manning Road originally asked for more than $8 million through an expressions of interest campaign last November.

The mansion was one of about 1200 properties listed for auction on Saturday. By Saturday evening, Domain Group had collected 971 auction results and put the clearance rate at 78 percent. 

Melbourne returns from a holiday break with a robust clearance rate from higher listings, although down a little on recent results,” Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson said.

On Saturday, just one local family – represented by buyer’s advocate David Morrell – made a bid for the keys to the 1410-square-metre property.

Bidding opened at $5.95 million and Jellis Craig auctioneer Ian Carmichael was forced to put in a vendor bid of $5,975,000 because prospective buyers kept their cards close to their chest.

The circa-1905 house originally asked for more than $8 million last November. 

After knocking back several attempts by the sole buyer to offer $10,000 more, Mr Carmichael finally accepted $5,985,000 and passed the home in.

The property, sold in conjunction with Kay and Burton, fetched an undisclosed sale price of more than $6 million price, Mr Carmichael said.

During the preamble, Mr Carmichael described the house as rich with history: from a grand house, to a rooming house, back to a home where songwriter and guitarist Birtles practised his chords in the 1980s.

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