1. Derelict Mansions with “Unbridled Potential”

    As Monica Kovacic over at the House Hunter may agree, derelict mansions offer an imaginative window into the domestic lives of generations past. While many mansions past their prime are demolished, many more are preserved as apartment house conversions (Babworth Estate in Darling Point being a very good example) or as single-family refurbishments. Here are some notable NSW and Victorian homes on the market in need of some serious TLC.

    Sitting on an acre of not-quite-the-best-but-not-that-bad Wahroonga land, the 1904 James Peddle mansion ‘Mount View’ (102 Grosvenor Street, Wahroonga) has listed with hopes in the high-$2m to right around the $3m mark. Adrian Ursino of Avera Property has the listing. The buyer will likely do a subdivision play, as the home has little value as a refurbished mansion in this pocket of Wahroonga.

    Down to Canterbury in the heart of Melbourne’s equivalent of the Upper North Shore: the 109 Tram Line and Mont Albert Road. Situated on View Street, the more historically-savvy and aesthetically-appealing alternative to the McMansions of Monomeath St. Cameron Edgoose and Peter Mitchell of Marshall White have the listing and want a reasonable $1.7m+. The exterior (pictured above) is in solid shape, the interiors on the other hand…

    The listing: 19 View St, Canterbury VIC

    Back to New South Wales, we find the dilapidated mansion ‘Rothesay’ (24 Pearson St Balmain East) on the Balmain peninsula. The mansion is entirely uninhabitable, but sits on a generous parcel of land in a pocket of Balmain East that would lead the buyer to pull an apartment renovation play here. The “Gothic Revival” abode is listed through Michael Glynn of McGrath-Inner West and wants $1.85m+. Pictured below.

    And finally we head to one of the hipper spots of inner Melbourne: Greville Street in Prahran. 26-28 Greville St is listed through Lachlan Castran of Castran Gilbert and is looking for offers above the $2m mark. Due to its location on a well-trafficked retail corridor, it’s most definitely a multi-family play here. Pictured below.

  2. RT Edgar’s Oops Moment

    We know Toorak is desirable, but…really? Jeremy Fox and David Colbran of RT Edgar Toorak took the power of a suburb a bit too far, falsely listing a Prahran house at 4 Grandview Grove as Toorak. Granted, it’s a pretty damn nice Victorian Italianate “mullet” house; it’s well-renovated, features polished concrete floors and a slick backyard pool. And Grandview Grove is the least Prahran-like Prahran street, but straight-up calling it Toorak is a bit of a stretch. I mean, you may be able to get away with Armadale, but Toorak? Then again, at $4.8m+, it’s asking quite a Toorak price…

    The listing: 4 Grandview Grove, PRAHRAN

  3. Farmhouse in Prahran? Say It Ain’t So!

    Oh, but it is so! And it actually does look a bit like a farmhouse, complete with odd broom-thingy on the front porch and a very tired interior. In the inner-suburb of Melbourne otherwise known for its attached Victorian rowhouses, this property does in fact represent a pretty rare offering; the setback from the road (and gravel DRIVEWAY) make it quite unique. The original tile work, marble fireplaces, and “ancient” landscaping are definitely worth salvaging; the rest is in need of a pretty hearty refresh. Murray Street is undoubtedly the nicest Prahran Street east of William St (and the second nicest street in the suburb to Grandview - which may as well be an Armadale or Malvern address given its distinctly suburban vibe; often-talked about “The Avenue” comes in at 3rd place in the hierarchy of Prahran streets). Murray St doesn’t see many listings, especially none of which are as sizeable as this farmhouse

    RT Edgar agents Sarah Case and Jeremy Fox have the listing that’s going to auction on 22 February. They are expected $2m+, which in my mind is a very, very strong BUY.

    The listing website: 22 Murray Street, Prahran