The four-bedroom house at 13 Montgomery Ave A reimagined classic mid century house in Hamlyn Heights has sold after a three-way auction tussle for the property The four-bedroom weatherboard residence at 13 Montgomery Ave sold for $862,500 Jellis Craig Geelong agent Jeff Begg said he anticipated five bidders would contest the 754sq m property but ultimately three hopeful buyers raised a hand RELATED: Five bidders ensure renovated Belmont home joins $1m club Shame list: 30 banks yet to pass on RBA cut Buyer warning as trashed ex-public houses hit market Mr Begg said the home attracted local and out-of-town interest with a local family ultimately securing the property in post-auction negotiations “It was competed between two local people and a buyer from Melbourne,” Mr Begg said “The attraction was the house itself – it was a modernist renovation and it had its own personality it was a bit of an individual in regards to your standard homes in Hamlyn Heights.” The living room offers plenty of space for all the family The property had been listed with price hopes from $800,000 to $880,000 The median house price in Hamlyn Heights is $700,000 Mr Begg said the buyers also saw the value in Hamlyn Heights due to the western suburb’s proximity to the city and the Geelong Ring Road “It’s a very family friendly neighbourhood The mid century facade gives way to an contemporary floorplan that positioned the open-plan kitchen dining and living area at the heart of the home A deck and pergola wrap around the rear of the house Breeze blocks are a feature next to the garage in a nod to the Palm Springs influence to mid century architecture Three bedrooms were positioned along one side of the building with a fourth bedroom up the front able to be used as a second living room The kitchen was stacked with integrated appliances while the space opened to a north-facing deck Outdoor features celebrated the Palm Springs influence on the mid century style with a breeze block feature wall beside the garage and cactii making a prominent feature in the outdoor entertaining space Mr Begg said the sellers had owned the home for 20 years and the renovation was completed about nine years ago third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Occupation: Social & Community Services Worker I moved to Herne Hill from Melbourne 19 years ago to be closer to the water and at that time housing was much more affordable too Community involvement: When I first moved to Geelong I worked in community settings as a disability support worker before moving on to other social work roles I have been actively involved with many different community groups over the years I have been a long-term community activist Associated with a political party or movement I have received multiple small donations to the tune of a few thousand dollars Families on a quiet Geelong street have been left horrified after a house was defaced with a disturbing message prompting a police investigation and hasty clean up Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) The four-bedroom house at 33 White Gum Drive A modern four-bedroom family home in an estate set around central parkland lasted just hours on the market before motivated buyers snapped it up in a circa $1.3m deal The two-storey Hamlyn Heights residence sold on the first day it was listed for sale as a family sought a new home close to Kardinia International College Jellis Craig Geelong agent Marcus Falconer said the buyers knew exactly what they wanted when the house at 33 White Gum Drive hit the market RELATED: Big mistakes trapping homebuyers Geelong spots that are hot for cashed up Baby Boomers Historic farm opens chance to buy your own mountain Mr Falconer said the house sold for above its $1.295m price guide “The people had sold (their previous home) and were incredibly keen to get their kids in to a location that they could walk to Kardinia,” Mr Falconer said “It’s a really tightly-held pocket up there – there’s only 34 houses in the whole subdivision that looks out onto the reserve.” Geelong’s water utility Barwon Water developed the water-sensitive urban designed estate around a former water basin stipulating homes must be water and energy-efficient designs Feature timber panelling and pendant lighting are features of the kitchen A covered real patio extends the living zone outdoors to the private backyard The neighbourhood holds some of Hamlyn Heights’ most expensive homes including an $1.815m record price in nearby Heritage Dr The Metricon house occupies a 680sq m property with a back yard featuring a solar-heated saltwater chlorinated Narellan pool with a spa nook a paved entertaining area with bar at one end and a barbecue area at the other The house has three living spaces downstairs dining and kitchen zone and a separate home cinema at the rear The saltwater chlorinated pool and spa nook is a key feature in the back yard Sharland Park and playground provide a picturesque view from the front of the house Four bedrooms share a rumpus room upstairs Schools have long been a key driver for a growing group of homes buyers across Geelong But Mr Falconer buyers that act that fast are more rare “One of the drivers at the moment is people trying to get kids into school,” Mr Falconer said “You do see a few people during the year that know exactly what they want and they’re highly motivated buyers.” I am a current standing Councillor with the City of Greater Geelong Council I set two world records (2003 & 2007) for “‘Longest Static Cycling Marathon” while raising awareness and funds for the Asthma Foundation and beyondblue Between 2017 and 2020 I was the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia Reduce Council rate burden in order to reduce the cost of living Assist and support community organisations and sporting clubs A young family that upsized a three-bedroom Hamlyn Heights home through a series of renovations will leave having doubled the value growth over 10 years The rendered brick veneer house at 10 Nalangil Ave sold for $774,000 after spending just 13 days on the market Newtown agent John Moran said a Melbourne-based buyer had secured the property through a buyers advocate and would hold onto it as an investment The house occupies a 552sq m block near Sladen St RELATED: Spring jump recorded for Geelong home prices How a lizard back from the dead could block new homes Striking suburban showpiece oozes urban cool The updated three-bedroom house at 10 Nalangil Ave sold for $774,000 after 13 days on the market A big deck with a gabled roof created a spacious outdoor living space Records show the house previously sold for $275,000 in 2012 with the owners adding a rear veranda and a double garage in a renovation that also created a second living space Mr Moran said the beautifully presented home was ideal fodder for Melbourne and interstate buyers who are looking to capitalise by purchasing at the bottom of the market But records show the owners have done a pretty good job adding value to the property themselves The price growth on their original purchase price is nearby double the 93 per cent capital growth experienced in Hamlyn Heights over the past 10 years The house retains its polished floorboards throughout which tie together the updated kitchen with waterfall benchtops and stainless steel appliances that part of an open-plan space combining a dining and living zone heater and built-in study nook are featured in the living room while a formal lounge also features a built-in TV unit The updated kitchen features up to date waterfall benches and stainless steel appliances A lavish bathroom showcases a freestanding tub The three bedrooms each have built-in wardrobes and share a renovated bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiles and a deep freestanding tub with a timber deck features a built-in TV and bench seating beneath a gabled roof “It was low maintenance – there was nothing to do,” Mr Moran said He said the property was an obvious target for the groups of investors returning to Geelong They were obviously trying to buy at the bottom of the market and secure properties that would deliver strong growth Buyers advocates are coming back into the market and a buyer’s advocate did end up buying here “You’re not going to get a better time to buy them now So they’re all starting to come in here and try and snap up properties at the bottom of the market.” Resides: I have resided in Manifold Heights Corio and Geelong West during my time in Geelong I am a proud Geelong resident of some three years now Community involvement: I am a lifelong volunteer with a long history of supporting charities in the domestic violence and was a NSW Greens Councillor before that Preferencing: I have yet to do any preferencing I do not accept donations from big business or corporate interests- I am running my campaign on grassroots fundraising improving public and active transport infrastructure and tackling the cost of living (through properly funding community facilities) Construction has begun at a property owned by The Department of Family Occupation: Marketing & Communications Manager In Geelong since 2016 and within the ward since 2020 Community involvement: Regularly attended local events I’ve been a Loaned Executive and Community Grants Reviewer with Give Where You Live and I’ve trekked the Surf Coast Trail raising funds for the Kids Plus Foundation and Give Where You Live I’ve served on the Geelong Major Events Committee and I’m an active member of my local CFA fire brigade Preferencing: I ask voters to take the time to look at what the other candidates are standing for I am receiving no financial assistance and have received no donations Poor infrastructure maintenance including deteriorating roads and footpaths neglected public spaces and inadequate planning with local facilities and essential infrastructure struggling to keep up with population growth We really need elected councilors that will focus on and address local community issues Residents in a pair of inner-north Geelong suburbs have reported several instances of a middle-aged man acting in a threatening manner – the latest involving a knife Hamlyn Heights homesPeter Farago A couple secured a two-bedroom at 32 Sycamore St, Hamlyn Heights, house in a $580,000 post-auction deal The buyers were the only group to bid for the 522sq m property at Saturday’s auction Jellis Craig Geelong agent Malinda Leonard said RELATED: Stamp duty cut labelled ‘reckless’ and a ‘trap’ by real estate experts Vic’s biggest home investors are not who you might think Entertaining takes centre stage at custom Geelong West home The large living room has plenty of windows drawing natural light into the home “We ended up with a few bids and it sold to a young couple that are going to fully renovate it,” Ms Leonard said I had another three groups that were interested but weren’t able to bid unconditionally due to finance Ms Leonard said most buyers were looking at what the home could look like in the future “Most of the interest was first-home buyers – young couples looking to get into the market and putting their stamp on it further down the track because it was more than liveable,” she said “Just living in it for a bit and doing what they want to down the track because it’s pretty hard to get into the market at the minute north facing and because it was at the top of Sycamore St the people that bought it are going to do a two storey and actually get incredible views,” she said “The biggest negative about the property was that it was only a two-bedder and the second bedroom was quite small First-home buyers from Melbourne also pounced after auction landing a three-bedroom clinker brick house at Belmont for $600,000 Barry Plant South Barwon agent Matthew Constantine said the 460sq m property at 25 Watson Ave passed in and sold after auction high ceilings with decorative cornices and an updated bathroom But the position within walking distance of High St shops was a winner for the buyers “I think that they’ve got friends in the area so they were kind of comfortable in their recommendation but certainly will take the opportunity to move in and make it their own over time,” Mr Constantine said cornies and brick mantel feature in the living room White tiles and a glass shower screen add a modern edge to the bathroom but probably would require a little bit of an update “But particularly proximity to the shops is one of the things that they mentioned.” First-home buyers remain a strong cohort in a market flushed with ex-rental properties sitting within an affordable price bracket “The majority of ex-rental properties we’ve sold in the last six or 12 months I’d say 80 per cent of gone to first-home buyers,” he said “In our experience the first-home buyers feel that they’ve got a fair bit of choice at the moment because of the ex-rental stock coming to market.” An original homestead in Hamlyn Heights has reclaimed its position as one of the suburb’s finest residences after a standout renovation that successfully marries old and new Respecting the heritage of the Victorian-era house was paramount to the vendors who used it as the starting point for a substantial family home The beauty and functionality of the existing rooms held huge appeal when they purchased Church St’s ‘Oakfield’ in 2019 but it was the 1419sq m block that sealed the deal RELATED: $1m plan for Geelong home to help people sleeping rough Landmark boutique hotel listed for sale on Bellarine The original homestead once occupied a larger farm but still sits on 1491sq m of land It’s allowed them to create the ultimate family haven for their three boys at 334 Chruch St, Hamlyn Heights a lawn the size of a tennis court and even a three-hole putting green to complement their sympathetic extension “I love an old house and it was the bones of it and the land of it were beautiful and very enticing,” the vendor said “I dabble in a bit of interiors and my husband and I could see that we could live in it while adding the extension because we knew the original part of the house was beautiful The couple worked with architect Jessica Clark and builder Nathan Panozzo on the extension which doglegs around the original footprint to create a five-bedroom house with a beautiful indoor-outdoor connection A swimming pool and spa has transformed the backyard The wide kitchen bench is perfect for after school snacks The laundry and mudroom continues the classic A “pokey” backyard space proved ideal for a swimming pool and spa that have become the centrepiece of the outdoor entertainment area “The old part of the house we have kept as the kids’ quarters and we basically knocked down a lean-to laundry at the end of the original hallway the spine of the house with the original front door that would have faced the bay back in 1800s,” the vendor said the biggest pantry and laundry and this beautiful kitchen living and dining with the double French doors on both sides that utilise the morning and afternoon sun.” A new entry hall dressed with timber floors delivers you to the expansive open-plan living space which has 3.9m ceilings and an elegant open fireplace flanked by custom cabinetry The main living area flows out to a vine-covered outdoor entertainment area Heritage features are retained in the original section of the house A skylight ensure the ensuite is bathed in natural light From here you can flow out to a vine covered poolside pergola on one side and smaller sun-drenched deck on the other where the vendors often enjoy a beer or glass of wine The classically styled kitchen is designed for entertaining wide oven and a large walk-in pantry that links to the laundry and mudroom This utility zone is cleverly designed with a built-in bench seat for taking your shoes off as well as space to hang and stow belongings away While the adults can retreat to the large main bedroom suite the four children’s bedrooms are zoned with their own living space that also provides direct access to the pool deck double electric gates create a secure front yard with a double carport in-ground trampoline and enough lawn to kick the footy Geelong agent James Wilson is handling the expressions of interest campaign for 334 Church St Two properties sold at auction in Hamlyn Heights at the weekend proved there are plenty of young homebuyers prepared to chase their dream in the current climate Both homes sold in $600,000-plus deals as first-home buyers comprised the lion’s share of the interest of the mid century brick veneer houses There was a lot of competition at the auction of a three-bedroom house at 26 Hamlyn Ave where the biggest asset was a four-car garage RELATED: Prominent builder’s historic Geelong terrace winds back clock Geelong suburbs with the biggest housing projects revealed Cotton On co-owners put waterfront oasis up for sale Hayeswinckle agent Adam Murphy said he counted five or six bidders for the 664sq m property “It was quite a good auction with (auctioneer) Michelle Winckle,” Mr Murphy said “The bidding started at about $560,000 and I went through nearly a whole page of bid numbers so it would have been perhaps 20 bids “We were hoping that it would end up somewhere there and we thought it would if we had competitive bidding on the day Mr Murphy said most of the interest came from first-time buyers who were having a big impact on interest on properties advertised below $600,000 they can probably get a bit of a hand from the family because they’ve exceeded $600,000 yet we still had a lot of from home buyers keen on it and it’s that sort of second-tier suburb,” he said “And the shed was a factor as well – it had a three-to-four car garage in it as well and it was a good solid home as well on a corner as well So it was it was always going to be an appealing property A three-to-four car garage was a big attraction for buyers at 26 Hamlyn Ave They’ve felt that justice is being done to their mum’s house.” First-home buyers were also the source of interest at 22 Kalimna St Geelong agent Duncan Skene said he couldn’t disclose the price which was midway through the advertised $595,000 to $650,000 range “It was mainly first-time buyers there,” Mr Skene said “We thought we had three or four and a few dropped off and different people turned up and it just didn’t go to plan “I’ve passed it in to a bid and we just negotiated with them and we’re able to achieve the result that everyone was happy with so maybe they chose to go to a different auction Buyers can make cosmetic changes to the home to make it more liveable Sometimes it just happens that this sort of similar type of properties all at the same time.” But Mr Skene said the calls after the auction to inquire whether the property had sold were an encouraging of the depth of interest He said the property was ideal for first-time buyers who could take their time making cosmetic changes but you could see potential in what you could do,” he said “There was plenty of things you could update and improve and make it very liveable it was 650sq m with a north-facing back yard and around the cover was the new IGA.” Mr Murphy said the price sensitivity in the market was being keenly felt in the amount of interest at inspections “I did a private sale on a property in Lara And that was priced $579,000 to $630,000 and in two weeks we had 27 groups,” he said “When we’re selling properties that are well into the sixes and into sevens and the numbers are quite thin on the ground “People aren’t sitting on the sidelines waiting for things to improve in the interest rates and so on The Reserve Bank’s next board meeting to decide the trajectory of interest rates is on August 6 The three-bedroom house at 2/19 Langibanool Ave A high-end three-bedroom house tailored for a subdivision in Hamlyn Heights has found a buyer after just 20 days on the market The weatherboard residence at 2/19 Langibanool Ave sold for $837,500 after the short campaign The house was designed and built by Eccles Homes after the owners purchased the original property at 19 Langibanool Ave and mapped out the two-home project RELATED: Former city milk bar shrugs off eyesore tag with luxe conversion Busy road no handbrake to nailing quick sale in Highton Armstrong Creek estate launches first of 164 townhouses Geelong agent Michael Tricarico said the house at the rear of the property was tailored for the market with its high spec list of features attracting strong interest from people seeking to downsize “There was a lot of interest from downsizers Melbourne downsizers and even interstate downsizers looking at it high spec home for that downsizer market and the ideal candidates were in that demographic the natural light and the fact they didn’t have to sacrifice on anything Multiple skylights offer plenty of natural light within the home A glass sliding door connects the living zone to an outdoor deck “They put skylights throughout the house and upgraded the heating and cooling as well so despite being on the south side of the street it’s a really light and bright home that’s really appealing in terms of colour palette.” The new home epitomises both luxury and low-maintenance living with the main bedroom suite offering a peaceful haven at the front and two additional bedrooms tucked away in a separate wing The spacious layout is evident within the open-plan living dining and kitchen zone within the heart of the home It flows out through glass stacker doors to a deck creating an indoor-outdoor entertainment flow The main bedroom offers a private haven with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite The stylish design continues throughout the home The Hamptons-style kitchen features stone benchtops and an impressive island bench and breakfast bar The decision to go high end was a rare decision in Hamlyn Heights which is a suburb where most multi-dwelling developments are tailored to more price sensitive investors “This definitely catered for the owner occupier market “There’s a lot more owner occupiers moving into that area somewhere where it’s still close to Geelong so close to the ring road and good schooling options for families.” A recovery is underway across the Geelong housing market as the bulk of suburbs show an uplift in home values in the last months of 2024 New PropTrack suburb median value data for houses and units shows the recovery was underway as the year drew to a close PropTrack senior economist Anne Flaherty said a further rise in value was on the cards if interest rates were cut as expected in the first six months of 2025 Manifold Heights home snapped up in four days More positive signs for Geelong home prices But the magnitude of the rise in house and unit values shows that homeowners going to market in 2025 shouldn’t get too carried away when they’re setting price expectations The suburbs with the biggest rise in house values included Manifold Heights where an increase of 1.3 and 2.1 per cent represented between $11,000 and $18,000 SEE FULL LIST OF SUBURBS BY VALUE CHANGES Increases were marginally more substantial in unit markets Leopold and Whittington revealed the biggest rises There were 49 areas where house or unit values increased in the previous three months the median values across Geelong remain below the figures recorded at the same time last year in all but eight locations Ms Flaherty said Geelong had passed the bottom of the market PropTrack senior economist Anne Flaherty said home prices were trending higher in the bulk of Geelong suburbs “It’s definitely some good news for homeowners in Geelong because we have been seeing home prices across Geelong really trending downwards since 2022 and what we’re now starting to see is a recovery that seems to be happening pretty much across the board,” Ms Flaherty said “I think another positive sign for prices this year is that the expectation is that we are going to see an interest-rate cut most likely within the first six months of this year that will increase buyers’ borrowing capacities and that you would expect to also push property prices up as they can afford to pay more.” Ms Flaherty said the rise in Geelong comes as a lot of buyers were still being priced out of a growing number of suburbs pushing them to outer suburbs of Melbourne and provincial cities The five-bedroom house at 32 Girton Crescent is listed for sale with price hopes from $1.65m to $1.725m “Geelong itself is a major hub – there is a lot of employment “It’s still a relatively affordable area not too far away from Melbourne that is probably drawing in buyers who may otherwise not have even considered purchasing in Geelong in the past.” Geelong director Nick Lord said an increase in buying activity over the past few months was an early indicator that prices would improve But he said that activity was predicated on buyers meeting the market given the correction in prices over the past 18 months “Anything that we’ve deemed probably fairly priced and in line with the market the buyers are certainly active and we’re seeing them sell within the appropriate range,” Mr Lord said is listed for sale with price hopes from $700,000 to $770,000 “Anything that’s not in line with the market is honestly sitting for six to 12 months.” Mr Lord said second and third-home buyers were making a return in a sign of improved confidence in both sellers and buyers “When the market’s a little bit down with consumer confidence whether they’re needing to improve the size of their house or land space for growing children will sit but only for 12 or 18 months before they need to get moving.” He said they’re most active in a price point between $800,000 to $1.5m “There has certainly been more activity out there Traffic at open homes has certainly been increased over the past three months and we’re seeing some first-time buyers and investors coming back in.” Mr Lord said a cut in interest rates would unlock more borrowing power to allow more people back into the market this year An extensively renovated five-bedroom family home in the high-demand location of Manifold Heights was designed by DBL and built by Archibald Builders with substantial involvement by the vendors “It was practically rebuilt from scratch,” said the vendor, who has flipped the home at 12 Narmbool St, Manifold Heights “There were a couple of walls left and we started again.” Only house in secluded Belmont street snapped up Renovated home drives young family to Hamlyn Heights integrated dishwasher and stainless steel cooker dining and kitchen zone is the home’s key feature that leads out to a rear deck Gartland Geelong agent Tony Young has listed with five-bedroom house with price expectations between $2.2m and $2.3m the renovation took about 12 months to complete and has yet to be lived in its refreshed “All the modern comforts have been taken care of from multiple reverse cycle air- conditioning units throughout the house high-quality fixtures and it has a north-facing aspect,” the vendor said contemporary design features are clean and minimal with an abundance of light and space throughout all of the living areas The vendor said one of the home’s standout features is the large downstairs open-plan living and dining area And wrapped with more lawn and garden space in the backyard The space flows through to the kitchen and includes an in-built entertainment unit The designer kitchen has stainless-steel appliances the area opens directly to the large undercover veranda and entertainment deck which overlooks the low-maintenance landscaped rear yard A feature staircase leads to two additional bedrooms upstairs A deep freestanding bath is a key feature of the main bathroom basins and taps are matched across the bathrooms “This is a genuine five-bedroom home with an additional study which is very rare,” Mr Young said “The design provides all the requirements of modern family living and will care for the family over many years.” but it’s in a coveted location in Manifold Heights A built-in entertainment system is featured in the living zone “Manifold Heights is quite special as it was designed by the Manifold family in the early 1900s as a purely residential suburb with most of the large allotments protected by a single dwelling covenant allowing only one home to be constructed This means that the area isn’t flooded with development.” “The Manifold Primary School zone is also coveted,” he said Additional features of the property include a 9m-wide garage with rear laneway access that fits two large vehicles and connects internally to the home “There is a lot of additional joinery in the home and genuinely heaps of storage,” Mr Young said A Hamlyn Heights family is embarking on a dream to create a home on the waterfront after snapping up a mid-century Western Beach house The original three-bedroom residence at 2 Western Beach Rd sold a week after the property had been passed in on a vendor bid at auction RELATED: The unlikely suburbs leading Geelong’s house price growth Late Torquay surfing icon’s home could be last of its kind Bailey Smith splashes $4m on Surf Coast hinterland home The house offers views through parkland to Corio Bay boating Geelong agent Jim Cross said due to the 520sq m block size and that it was an unrenovated home it close to “entry level” for Western Beach “The purchaser is a local family currently living in Hamlyn Heights and the buyers had a dream of living on Western Beach at some stage They purchased the property at this point in time with the intent on renovating at some stage down the track “They just saw it as a great opportunity to get into that tightly held pocket on Western Beach.” The house was built for a former Geelong mayor and hit the market for the first time in almost 30 years This prized beachside location is offered to the public for the first time in almost 30 years The mid-century residence is designed to allow occupants to enjoy the most of the views over Geelong’s waterfront The new owners will have plenty of scope to renovate or rebuild Bay views are already in full view at Craigievar which was originally built by notable Geelong resident and then-mayor Morris Jacobs Full height windows capture passing sailboats from the formal lounge and dining room which adjoins a second living area with a balcony where you can watch the world go by It’s one of three houses on the market on the prized waterfront strip is listed with a $4.79m to $4.99m price tag Geelong is listed with $5.5m to $6m price hopes Two more grand period homes further along the beach are listed with higher price hopes At 36 Western Beach Rd stands a fully renovated four-bedroom house on a 677sq m parcel And close to the CBD at 56 Western Beach Rd a landmark 1888 residence on its original 1222sq m landholding Newtown agent John Moran has brought the property to market for the first time in more than 40 years as an opportunity for new owners to renovate with price hopes from $5.5m to $6m My name is Angela Carr I am the Socialist Alliance endorsed candidate running in the ward of Hamlyn Heights for the City of Greater Geelong Council elections in October this year I live in Herne Hill with my 3 school aged children union delegate and passionate community activist I and other Socialist Alliance members have been active in a range of campaigns across Geelong in relation to defending community services revitilising community spaces and opposing racism Geelong council under pressure not to cut jobs, libraries Equality for women will help eliminate violence against them Facebook Instagram Email: geelong@socialist-alliance.org DONATE VOLUNTEER Subscribe to Socialist Alliance & Green Left newsletters Authorisation for electoral content by Neville Spencer A woman matched with a Geelong man on a dating app She went to the police after he started talking about exploiting children A 25-year-old driving an alleged stolen car has been arrested after a lengthy police chase through Geelong that ended with a dramatic crash on a Melbourne street A mum and teacher has opened up about her personal battle and how she is determined to win the fight Rents are falling in a growing number of Geelong suburbs but state government policies ramping up the cost of owning a rental home continues to reach hit renters’ hip pockets New PropTrack quarterly data reveals median weekly asking rents fell in 10 suburbs across the Geelong region in the three months to July But there were still 27 areas where rents for houses or units increased between $3 and $40 a week RELATED: Childcare mooted for land near affordable housing project Geelong’s best suburbs for growth, rent returns revealed Jellis Craig Geelong Property Management director Renee Reynolds said a continued sell-off of ex-rental properties was increasing demand for accommodation Ms Reynolds said it wasn’t only older-style homes where it wasn’t feasible for owners to pay for upgrades to meet new compliance standards that were leaving the rental market Jellis Craig Geelong Property Management director Renee Reynolds “There are also quality properties being sold off because mum and dad investors just can’t afford to hold on,” she said Rental demand continues to be price sensitive with homes priced around $500 a week being rented quickly while properties priced above $750 a week were lagging “Come November that will change for the higher price bracket as people tend to be moving for school and relocating for the new year A lot of executive rentals come up around that time.” Rents were down between $2 and $30 a week for houses in Barwon Heads The suburbs with the biggest rise in rents included Fyansford Armstrong Creek and Portarlington for houses and East Geelong Ms Reynolds said rent prices tended to drop in winter due to the lower seasonal demand except where there was little stock available Three bedrooms: The new townhouse at 31A Gwynne St but cost pressure on existing landlords still had a greater impact But extremely low vacancy rates and holding rents were attracting new people to purchase investment properties and bring new rental stock to the market “We are seeing a new influx of investors purchasing and new stock coming to the market what I can see is there’s going to be limited supply which will increase rental prices,” she said said the industry lobby continued to advocate for change with the state government PropTrack director of economic research Cameron Kusher said while rents were increasing in the Geelong region overall (up 1 per cent to $500 a week) Two bedrooms: The contemporary townhouse at 2B Wren St But the suburb data showed Geelong was no longer affordable Mr Kusher said new figures show there was 5.7 per cent more rental stock in July than the same time last year with a 23.5 per cent boost in new listings A slowdown in international student numbers and a trend of more people moving into cheaper accommodation or sharehousing could be making more homes available to rent PropTrack director of economic research Cameron Kusher “I think Melbourne and Geelong is on a bit of a counter-cyclic play at the moment Brisbane prices are getting pretty close to being more expensive than Melbourne “So even though the government is punishing investors with more tax I think people are saying Melbourne is a city of 5m-plus people it’s going to be the largest city in the country and that includes Geelong “Things are looking reasonably cheap in the area compared to other parts of the country.” MEDIAN WEEKLY RENTS FOR HOUSES IN GEELONG SUBURBS: Three-month and 12-month change in median weekly rent by suburb MEDIAN WEEKLY RENTS FOR UNITS IN GEELONG SUBURBS: GAWS volunteer Glenda MacDonald has been busy serving customers in the new store GEELONG Animal Welfare Society’s (GAWS) Op Shop now has a new home The store officially opened its doors to the public on Monday November 4 and has already proven popular with the community As the lease came to an end at the previous location in Hamlyn Heights GAWS took the opportunity to move to a larger and brighter space GAWS volunteer coordinator Kim Attard said the new tenancy was appealing for its size proximity to the Moolap shelter and convenience “GAWS has a lot of support from our local community around Leopold and Newcomb and we are thrilled to give them another option to shop for pre-loved clothes and items at affordable prices “It is a great shopping strip within Newcomb and we are located next to the Lifeline Op Shop making it a one-stop area for those on the hunt for second-hand items in good condition.” The Hamlyn Heights store officially finished trading in October with volunteers working to stock the shelves at the new location All profits generated from within the store go towards supporting the animals in the care of GAWS the op shop invited customers in store to explore the stock and consider making a purchase to support the animals at the shelter books and toys are all available at the store The op shop can now be found at 50 Watsons Road Newcomb and is open from 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am until 2pm on Saturdays For more information, head to gaws.org.au Geelong’s middle ring suburbs are emerging as the hot spot for young buyers trying to enter the market as home prices remain cool across the region New Real Estate Institute of Victoria median house price data shows Geelong home vales remained steady in the past three months The $730,000 median house price across the City of Greater Geelong is about $60000 less than what was recorded at the same time last year RELATED: Buyers swoon over Swan Bay views from 1970s time capsule Affordable entry keeps first-time buyers in favourite pocket Geelong suburbs where most rental homes are selling The best performing suburbs over the past 12 months included Drysdale with annual rises in median price between 3.1 per cent and 6.4 per cent the suburbs experiencing the biggest drop in price included Point Lonsdale where falls of between 6.1 per cent and 6.4 per cent were recorded The REIV reported larger shifts in median price in some suburbs over three months but the handful of sales recorded in these areas fell below the level needed to ensure reliable data Property investors continue to play a disrupting role in the market with a constant flow of ex-rental homes hitting the market at a time when developers and other investors aren’t buying is listed for sale with $620,000 to $660,000 price hopes The flow of stock on the market is playing into the hands of buyers and extending time on market for many sellers “Anything that’s renovated or 20 years or younger is appealing in the market place Pretty much anything that doesn’t need maintenance,” Mr Ashton said The fear of overpaying is always in the back of somebody’s mind.” The three-bedroom house at 149 Separation St is listed for sale with $650,000 to $710,000 price hopes Mr Ashton said prices remaining steady over 12 months should give confidence to potential buyers “We know there’s been a stabilising in the prices that’s reflected in those month-on-month figures “That should give you confidence but also from an interest rate perspective which is not going to break the back of somebody’s who’s buying today.” The three-bedroom house at 22 Boolarong Drive is listed for sale with $630,000 to $660,000 price hopes Geelong agent Duncan Skene said first-home buyers were becoming more active as they’ve realised there’s less competition and homes are more likely to sell within realistic price ranges that $500,000 to $700,000 house on a 650sq m block that’s not too far out “A lot of people a few years ago were happy to do a lot of the work are probably not so much any more Mr Skene said a lot of ex-rental stock fitted into that bracket especially if owners had updated rooms such as the kitchen and bathrooms The three-bedroom house at 7 Daventry Avenue is listed for sale with $615,000 to $665,000 price hopes The middle ring suburbs such as Hamlyn Heights Bell Park and Bell Post Hill have seen annual price growth REIV chief executive officer Kelly Ryan said Geelong represents great value overall “The fact that there hasn’t had a significant decline means that it’s still holding great value,” Ms Ryan said “And considering there was such a significant boost in prices throughout that Covid period holding steady at this point I think is still a positive sign it’s got great schools and still got a lot of development and progress that’s still being committed in the Geelong region GREATER GEELONG JUNE 2024 MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES The owners of popular Hamlyn Heights cafe Eddy & Wills have put the premises on the market opening the door for a new owner to take over their business or start a new venture Nine years after launching the casual eatery at 130 Church St owner Matt Colman said the time had come to hang up his boots Potential buyers looking to continue with hospitality have the option of purchasing the Eddy & Wills name or starting afresh on the 460sq m corner site RELATED: Buyers scramble for classic Manifold Heights bungalow Quality Newtown renovation snares buyer after auction Geelong hospital operator looks to capitalise on hot demand “It has been a long decision and a very hard decision but I just want to do some travel and things that I might not be able to do if I’m here,” Mr Colman said. “There is a really great community as our customer base, it would be nice for it to continue as some sort of cafe setting but, in the same respect, I think the building would suit any type of business. “It would suit a hairdresser or a florist or even an office. This front area would be a good reception area for some sort of clinic because you have the rooms out the back.” Geelong Advertiser readers voted Eddy & Wills the city’s best brunch spot back in 2021. Business owner Matt Colman celebrates the accolade with staff working at the cafe in 2021. A new owner has the option of continuing the business or creating their own. Geelong Real Estate Co. director Ricky Forte is handling the expressions of interest campaign for the property, which has a $1.1m to $1.2m price guide. Offers for the high-profile corner site close on June 3. Mr Colman said the Art Deco style home attached to the shopfront was a big part of the attraction when he purchased the property almost a decade ago. It has two large living spaces featuring Art Deco style ceiling roses and polished timber floors, an updated kitchen, two bathrooms and a covered deck. The property comes with a commercial kitchen. The two-bedroom home has beautiful decorative ceilings. The home’s private kitchen is well equipped. “When we were looking at starting a cafe it was an option that we could buy something and if it didn’t work out, because it’s always a gamble, you would have a residence to live in,” he said. “We would not just put all our money into something that you might not get the return on.” He said there were many naysayers who doubted a cafe could survive in the area, but it had built a loyal following and benefited from passing trade along Church St. The private rear deck off the residence is great for outdoor entertaining. “If someone doesn’t want to take on the name, obviously it’s quite a personal name for us, it was our middle names when we started the business, there is the option for someone to buy it and keep all the equipment and obviously have access to the staff but create their own business,” he said. “We are just leaving it open to whatever someone might want, obviously it’s a bit of tough market right now.” realcommercial.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Nine years after launching the casual eatery at 130 Church St RELATED: Buyers scramble for classic Manifold Heights bungalow Quality Newtown renovation snares buyer after auction Geelong hospital operator looks to capitalise on hot demand “It has been a long decision and a very hard decision but I just want to do some travel and things that I might not be able to do if I’m here,” Mr Colman said “There is a really great community as our customer base it would be nice for it to continue as some sort of cafe setting but I think the building would suit any type of business “It would suit a hairdresser or a florist or even an office This front area would be a good reception area for some sort of clinic because you have the rooms out the back.” Geelong Advertiser readers voted Eddy & Wills the city’s best brunch spot back in 2021 Business owner Matt Colman celebrates the accolade with staff working at the cafe in 2021 A new owner has the option of continuing the business or creating their own director Ricky Forte is handling the expressions of interest campaign for the property Offers for the high-profile corner site close on June 3 Mr Colman said the Art Deco style home attached to the shopfront was a big part of the attraction when he purchased the property almost a decade ago It has two large living spaces featuring Art Deco style ceiling roses and polished timber floors The property comes with a commercial kitchen The two-bedroom home has beautiful decorative ceilings The home’s private kitchen is well equipped “When we were looking at starting a cafe it was an option that we could buy something and if it didn’t work out you would have a residence to live in,” he said He said there were many naysayers who doubted a cafe could survive in the area but it had built a loyal following and benefited from passing trade along Church St The private rear deck off the residence is great for outdoor entertaining “If someone doesn’t want to take on the name obviously it’s quite a personal name for us it was our middle names when we started the business there is the option for someone to buy it and keep all the equipment and obviously have access to the staff but create their own business,” he said “We are just leaving it open to whatever someone might want obviously it’s a bit of tough market right now.” A Hamlyn Heights man who stabbed his roommate of four years Nick and Emma Daniele plan to extend out the back of the weatherboard home A young family is trading in a Fyansford property for a house on a big flat Hamlyn Heights block where they can easily extend The 1009sq m Griffen St property sold for $935,000 at Saturday’s auction North Geelong agent Nick De Stefano said there were four groups who were keen on the renovated three-bedroom weatherboard house and all showed up in the crowd to witness the auction RELATED: Renovated Belmont home beats hopes by $30K at wet auction New data: Where it’s cheaper to own or rent in Geelong Lifestyle goals achieved at renovated East Geelong home Auctioneer Shane King said the size and location were key ingredients that made the property worth more than average in the western Geelong suburb “You can rest assured that this is once in a lifestyle opportunity because these 1000sq m blocks are becoming harder to find,” he said The property is close to a number of local schools including Western Heights and Clonard colleges and also to the popular Vines Rd shopping strip a fantastic home with loads of character,” he said ceiling rose and ornate cornices were among the features “You can move in on day one and it has potential to add to the property whether a subdivision or an extension down the road Buyers Nick and Emma Daniele are doing just that said they were trading in a property at Fyansford for Hamlyn Heights where the flat land is preferable to extend and host their young family “We’ll do a big reno out the back,” he said It’s on a bit of a slope so with young kids this is better.” with two groups trading bids until the underbidder dropped out at $932,000 as the buyers offered $935,000 Auctioneer Shane King entertained bids from two groups at Saturday’s auction After stepping inside to speak to the vendors Mr King revealed the $935,000 highest bid was on the market The property had been listed with a $799,000 to $869,000 selling range has a background in climate and sustainability work THE Greens have announced three candidates for this year’s council elections in Greater Geelong The party aims to bring fresh energy and bold ideas to local governance each bringing a unique vision and expertise to the community She said the housing crisis must be addressed to enable communities to embrace climate action “We are committed to finding local government solutions to the housing crisis and safeguarding our future from the climate crisis.” Ms Flynn said the Greens were advocating for sustainable developments and improved infrastructure “We are looking to push for human-scale developments that are sustainable and support our fast-growing and diverse community We want to see property developers building a minimum of 30 per cent public and genuinely affordable housing in new developments “We are pushing for FOGO (food organics and garden organics) and glass recycling to be implemented in Geelong’s waste system “We believe that this is the real solution to our growing waste problem not incinerating rubbish at the proposed Lara facility.” wants to improve public transport and cycling infrastructure “Creating better and more diverse transport connections isn’t just about convenience it’s about building a more sustainable and inclusive Geelong where everyone can easily access opportunities while reducing our carbon footprint.” wants to restore community trust and ensure the council is transparent and accountable “It is important that we see candidates offering diverse voices and accountable local representation to ensure the City of Greater Geelong council delivers results that are truly reflective of the community and its needs,” he said Tara Mathuranayagam and her daughter Harper are selling their family home in Hamlyn Heights which they rebuilt after fire destroyed their old house on the site A luxury family home rebuilt from the ashes of a devastating fire has been listed for sale in Hamlyn Heights Tara Mathuranayagam and her husband Mario are saying goodbye to the four-bedroom modern masterpiece they crafted to replace their previous home in the aftermath of the 2016 blaze Ms Mathuranayagam blames bad luck for the electrical fire that engulfed their roof cavity on Good Friday night and forced the couple and their three children to start over at 16 Arthur Street Hamlyn Heights is an entertainer’s paradise High ceilings give great volume to the open-plan living area “We were in Quest apartments for about eight weeks We went from having everything to having four plates “I guess the silver living in it is that we were able to recreate what we had and we were able to get a newer version “The only thing that remained was the facade Everything else got pulled apart or pulled down The facade was the only thing that was retained after the 2016 house fire After making the difficult decision to rebuild the house they had already renovated the couple worked with designer Charles Mccora and builder First Earth Construction on their new high-end home with two living zones a huge outdoor entertainment area and a swimming pool on a 849sq m block The vendors were inspired by New York loft apartments for the new build The kitchen has VZug appliances and 5m marble bench dining and living area at the rear was born out of the family’s love for entertaining and features a 5m marble kitchen bench and top-of-the-range appliances Its 4m high ceiling avoided the need for a roof cavity — which was non-negotiable for Ms Mathuranayagam to move back in She splashed out on internal steel and glass doors that are now a standout feature of the house along with herringbone Tasmanian oak flooring polished concrete floors and terrazzo tiling Terrazzo and brass tapware add a touch of glamour to the ensuite “I love the New York loft apartment style and I put my glamour stamp on it,” Ms Mathuranayagam said She said they put in the pool as a gift to their children after the ordeal of the house fire and it had become a magnet for family and friends “We have hosted many functions and events,” she said “You throw open the doors and the house can accommodate up to 100 people The backyard is designed for outdoor entertaining and backs onto a tree-lined walking trail Newtown agent Dale Whitford is selling the property when you look at it looks as though it’s humble,” Mr Whitford said He said while the house was priced at the top end of the Hamlyn Heights market a recent $1.305m sale in neighbouring Herne Hill showed buyers saw value at that range This three-bedroom bungalow at 7 Shannon Ave It was love at first sight as Williamstown buyers bought one of Geelong’s “best Californian bungalows” on the spot McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said a single inspection was all it took for the new owners of 7 Shannon Ave, Hamlyn Heights two-bathroom home that had been rebuilt in luxurious fashion RELATED: Clifftop home beside Round the Twist lighthouse for sale Bidder secures East Geelong home for mother-in-law Two dads bid for their daughters in Herne Hill The kitchen features a Quantum Quartz marble bench The result is third highest sale in Hamlyn Heights rewarding vendors after an earlier winter auction failed to net a buyer The property had been advertised with a $1.69m to $1.79m price range “They walked in on Saturday and they bought it on the spot,” Mr Cortous said “I always knew that was going to happen because it was such a nice property I have not seen a Californian bungalow as good as that A gas fireplace is the focal point in the formal loungeroom The front bedroom is rich in period character He said the 859sq m block size and six-car garage made for the complete package in the eye of the buyers The vendors had undertaken the painstaking rebuild retaining the home’s heritage feel through decorative plasterwork and handmade pendant lighting engineered French oak floors and 3m high ceilings are among opulent touches incorporated into the home Engineered French oak floors add warmth to the main living area A central open-plan hub with a high-end kitchen flows out through double doors to a covered outdoor entertainment area featuring a built-in Weber barbecue and fridge The second formal living room is zoned with the two bedrooms at the front of the house while another retreat or study neighbours the luxe main bedroom suite The separate 15m by 7m Colorbond shed is accessed via a side driveway A man has been arrested after a stabbing in Geelong’s north that left another man in hospital Police have arrested 20 people and seized multiple firearms and commercial quantities of drugs during a major police operation across Greater Geelong The operation saw Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives and Crime Command's VIPER Taskforce knock on the doors of more than 40 homes between Monday 17 June and Thursday 20 June police conducted 34 Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) searches and five drug warrants across Greater Geelong targeting individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms Individuals subject to a FPO are prohibited from acquiring carrying or using any firearm or firearm related item such as ammunition • Property allegedly stolen from burglaries • During a firearms warrant at a residential property in Hamlyn Heights A 52-Year-Old Hamlyn Heights man was arrested and charged with cultivate and possess cannabis He was bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on 8 August 2024 police located and seized two imitation firearms and large quantities of GHB and methylamphetamine A 40-year-old Belmont man was arrested and charged with traffick commercial quantity of GHB He was bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on 17 July 2024 detectives located and seized an imitation firearm A 50-year-old Batesford man was arrested and charged with possess imitation firearm and contravention of firearms prohibition order He was bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on 29 August 2024 • Police executed a search warrant at a property in Armstrong Creek where they located prohibited weapons and illicit drugs A 14-year-old boy from Armstrong Creek was arrested and was charged with attempted armed robbery He will appear at a children's court at a later date • Police also arrested a 32-year-old North Geelong man who was wanted on warrant He was also charged with 10 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on 4 July 2024 Victoria Police has issued over 2100 FPOs across the state an FPO remains in effect for 10 years for adults and five years for children which is those between 14 and 17 years of age the individual is prohibited from acquiring They are also unable to enter a range of premises including firearms dealers The charges relating to FPOs are significant - 10 years imprisonment for acquiring carrying or using a firearm or firearm related item Anyone with information about illicit firearm or drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Quotes attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie - Geelong Crime Investigation Unit: "These operations aim to protect the community and reduce firearm related crime "We have the ability to call on specialised resources including the VIPER Taskforce to assist us in combatting criminal networks and remove illicit firearms from the wrong hands "Carrying firearms illegally is a dangerous game with severe consequences - and we will continue to run proactive operations across Greater Geelong to keep the community safe Emma Hills and Angus Wright plan to renovate 16 Little Ave A YOUNG tradesman’s carpentry skills will come in handy after securing an original Hamlyn Heights house ahead of three other bidders on Saturday Angus Wright and partner Emma Hills plan to renovate the three-bedroom weatherboard home that’s close to schools Their top offer of $515,000 was enough to edge out several competitors who saw a chance to add value to 16 Little Ave Geelong agent Eugene Carroll said the buyers were following in the footsteps of Ms Hills’ sister who purchased another house in nearby Shannon Ave “They are moving from Ballarat so now they have got a few more members of the family there,” Mr Carroll said “We thought it would be ideal for first-home buyers or maybe a tradie looking to do some improvements and that is exactly what happened.” with interest from four parties pushing the sale price above the $470,000 to $490,000 asking range Mr Wright said they were excited to finally buy a house after missing out at a couple of previous auctions “It was the potential and the local area that we liked,” the chippie said The house has great street appeal and a 549sq m block that provides scope to further extend the living spaces The bedrooms come with mid-century built-in bedheads which match the style of the kitchen/meals area Mr Carroll said the street was a big drawcard for buyers It’s one block from the Bell Park Sports and Recreation Club and walking distance to Hamlyn Banks Primary School Western Heights and Clonard colleges and shopping strips at Minerva and Vines roads A family-run supermarket destroyed by an arsonist is ready to be rebuilt as the excited owners prepare to sign off on a contract to build a new multimillion-dollar modern store in its place Frank Valenti along with the Valenti family will rebuild the Vallis IGA supermarket in Vines Road Hamlyn Heights after it was destroyed in a 2019 arson attack The owners of a Hamlyn Heights supermarket burnt down in a deliberately-lit fire will rebuild their store in its entirety after a recent property deal Vallis IGA owners purchased a 727sq m tract of land at 111-113 Vines Rd which represented half the site razed in the arson attack in March Owner Frank Valenti said the purchase allowed the business to push ahead with plans to build a full-size single-storey supermarket on the whole footprint of the previous store “The architect predicts opening in one year because we had our concept design ready to go in the hope that we were able to buy it,” Mr Valenti said “We had two sets of plans — the plan for our half only and the plan for a bigger store if we were able to buy this site Firefighters and police were on the scene dealing with a fire that broke out on March 4 “We’ve still got to go through council planning but now at least everything is out of the way like the insurance dramas and not knowing if were able to acquire this land.” Geelong agent Glen Hardman had listed for $1 million housed the shop the Valenti family leased when they bought the business 40 years ago In that time we’ve been able to buy next door and punch a hole in the wall and then we bought next door again so even though the supermarket for the last 20 years was over three sites the original site was never owned by us,” he said Owners of Vallis IGA have bought a 727sq m tract of land at 111-113 Vines Rd from their former part-landlord to move ahead plans to rebuild the supermarket The building was later demolished after being severely damaged by fire Mr Valenti said the owners had rebuffed an earlier offer to acquire the site before deciding to go to sell through an agent And this time we’ve bought it for still above the value but not as much as what we offered originally.” He said $1 million was an unrealistic target Mr Hardman said there was genuine interest in the property five interested parties who gave me offers,” he said.“But I think what Frank is going to do with it is the absolutely perfect scenario “I’m glad that he bought it because he’s going to do the right thing with it.” Mr Valenti hoped builders could get on site in a next few months “The builder’s quote is a six to nine-months build With a bit of luck by Easter time we could be in and serving people in the new shop.” A custom-built home by former Cat Bluey McGrath’s Blue Sky Homes has lured a buyer returning from Amsterdam to pay a near-record price in Hamlyn Heights The four-bedroom Toyne Ave residence sold for $1.632 million at Saturday’s auction with the buyer planning a return to Australia Buxton agent Matt Plunkett said the low maintenance load was the main attraction to the lifestyle opportunity presented by the three-year-old house on a 728sq m block RELATED: Every suburb’s massive pandemic house price gains Buyer lands Highton home once deemed too rustic to rent Resort style home sets record price north of Geelong “We always hear about the Melbourne buyers and the country buyers and the Sydney buyers but we don’t hear about them coming from Amsterdam,” Mr Plunkett said He retired from his occupation three or four years ago and moved to Amsterdam “He’s got some friends in Geelong so he decided to buy in Geelong.” Mr Plunkett said the buyer arrived in time first latch eyes on the home a week before the auction and bid for himself on Saturday but Mr Plunkett said another pair missed out on bidding as a the price raced beyond the $1.5 million to $1.55 million price hopes The $1.632m sale expectations by more than $80,000 to become one of the most expensive homes sold in Hamlyn Heights He wanted something he didn’t have to maintain,” Mr Plunkett said “He liked the area but a lot of homes in the area were either renovated or old “The pool as well was very low maintenance so that was the reason he was drawn to this home.” All the underbidders were from Geelong and seeking to upgrade to a bigger home The custom-build home features lavish bathrooms and a main bedroom suite two living areas including an open-plan family zone comprising a high-end kitchen dining and living spaces opening to a covered patio and backyard pool A $4.5m supermarket will replace the Hamlyn Heights’ Vallis IGA after an arsonist burnt it to the ground last year Hamlyn Heights has only changed hands once before A striking Art Deco-style time capsule untouched since the day it was built in 1954 has hit the market in Hamlyn Heights Curved kitchen cupboards, a terrazzo bathroom floor and porthole loungeroom window are among original features proudly on display at 35 Toyne Ave The three-bedroom gem has already sparked a flurry of early interest ahead of its scheduled June 24 auction RELATED: Belmont’s 1960s round house offers unique family home How a buyer ended a week-long property search in Geelong PropTrack reveals what you home could be worth in 2028 Curved cabinetry is right on theme in the kitchen/meals area But it remains to be seen if the biggest appeal lies in the home’s Art Deco character or the development potential of the 811sq m corner block Vendors Melanie and Colin Linsdell purchased the architect-designed home from the original owners in 2006 and Mrs Linsdell said she loved everything about the home’s immaculate interior “When we went inside for the first time we both couldn’t talk and every single room we went into was just like discovering something else amazing,” she said “From the terrazzo floor in the bathroom and toilet through to the round cabinets in the kitchen The kitchen is the height of 1950s fashion The different decorative cornices in each room are one of her favourite elements A cosy meals nook with built-in bench seating is another of the home’s quirks as is a fold down wall bed still fitted with the original mattress “Another great feature of this house is the amount of storage that is built in Newtown agent Mimi Simunic said there was a level of intrigue among potential buyers as there was nothing else like it in the area All three bedrooms have built-in cupboards A corner position makes the property a development prospect it’s just like you’re stepping back in time,” Ms Simunic said “It is a beautiful Art Deco so it’s all about the roundness … and it also has quite a nautical feel because of the white and navy trim and porthole even though it needs work and rejuvenation it has the history and I think most people have seen that property and thought ‘what the heck?’.” The corner location opens the door to potential development on the block which comes with an oversized double garage Ms Simunic said both the house itself and the land component had attracted interest development opportunities have dropped off in the past eight months with interest rate rises and building costs however the developers will be onto this one,” she said She’s set a price guide of $779,000 to $829,000 THE value of homes in Manifold Heights increased more than $43,000 a year on average as house prices in the hot spot doubled in a decade The enclave is one of seven Geelong suburbs where house prices doubled since 2007 Geelong’s inner west has become a growing hot spot Geelong West agent Marcus Falconer said strong population growth was driving up house prices while local homeowners were capitalising on their gains to trade up or down Local buyers trading up to a bigger home bought 19 Strachan Ave “You’ll find that a large proportion of those people will be coming from Melbourne,” he said “But one that we sold in (19) Strachan Ave for $1.4 million — well above reserve — was sold to someone from Geelong West that wanted a bigger block of land Geelong West flip turns Victorian era house to million dollar beauty Buyers emerge after Modernist Hamlyn Heights home is passed in Record Jan Juc sale for Zarinan Gurrie designed house rather than trade up from 400sq m or 500sq m for possibly 650sq m (of land) in Geelong West — if they’re lucky — these people have gone up (to Manifold Heights) for above 1100sq m and they’ve locked in their lifestyle for the future because they’ve made such great gains in Geelong West,” he said Geelong West auctions traditionally attract strong crowds “People are getting more money (for their properties) and the flow on effect of West’s gain is people are going on to Newtown or Manifold Heights for the block size.” Newtown agent Scott Roncon said Herne Hill and Hamlyn Heights had been pocket of affordability for local buyers priced out of areas closer to Pakington St But now Melbourne buyers were also looking outside of Geelong West “It’s heavily driven by first-home buyers who are buying as close as they can to the ring road,” Mr Roncon said but $500,000 is entry level to get into those suburbs.” First-home buyers are finding success at auctions in suburbs like Herne Hill and Hamlyn Heights Bell Post Hill and North Geelong was expected to benefit from the growth Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the quick commute to Melbourne made Geelong property more attractive because it has attractive housing very much the inner Melbourne period homes,” Ms Conisbee said. “But they’re starting to attract a lot of upgraders as well people living in apartments or smaller homes in Melbourne.” who believe the capital growth will continue you’ve got a lot of demand from younger buyers so that means the rental market is quiet buoyant as well.” “You’ve got some of the country’s best schools in such proximity to those suburbs and the shopping strips that so many people are attracted to,” Mr Ainsworth said 20 minutes down the highway and you’re on some of the best surf beaches.” WHEN people knocked on Nikita Giel’s front door asking whether she’d like to sell Ms Giel is selling up at 16 Wimmera Ave after picking Manifold Heights as a high growth area in 2015 when they bought for $590,000 “That’s pretty much the reason we wanted to buy in the area It’s a smaller suburb of high demand,” she said though we knew the return would be work the investment.” the only thing that’s changed is the interior paint scheme and the front garden “Ever since we’ve been there we’ve had people knocking at the door asking if we wanted to sell,” she said “We’ve had at least four people just knocking on the door and people leaving stuff in the letterbox.” Newtown agent Scott Roncon said the three-bedroom house has more than 50 groups at two opens ahead of the auction He said price expectations were in the low $700,000 range Geelong’s best growth suburbs over the past 10 years A STYLISH reboot of a freestanding weatherboard house in Hamlyn Heights offers buyers the chance to enjoy life near the centre of the action The three-bedroom house is presented with neutral tones, including polished timber floors and modern cabinetry, allowing buyers to make their own mark at 36a Kalimna St. The property has a prime position within walking distance to two schools and local shops The facade has a symmetrical design around a central porch a central corridor leading toward the heart of the house opens to the main bedroom and dining and loungeroom that face the front garden A modern bathroom has a shower over the bath and a double vanity The updated kitchen has a freestanding stainless steel cooker At the rear there’s a north-facing deck and secure parking for two cars The house has ducted heating and airconditioning 36 Kalimna St, Hamlyn Heights is now selling with a price guide of $390,000 to $410,000 Geelong West agent Laura Vander Noord on 0422 226 915 A retro Hamlyn Heights home designed by a pair of ‘legendary’ architects is still turning heads for its cool Mid-Century vibe Buyers have been lining up to inspect the angular four-bedroom house that Keith and John Reid created in 1969 for the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects’ housing service featuring a double height living room with exposed brick walls as its centrepiece won acclaim at the time and even appeared as House of the Week in the a 1974 edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly RELATED: Family buyers strike in Newtown Geelong suburbs to earn best pandemic price growth Two historic bluestone churches grace market A central staircase divides the two living rooms Harcourts, North Geelong agent Joe Grgic said the style of 64 Tahara St, Hamlyn Heights, still resonated with today’s buyers He’s expecting strong interest when the home is auctioned on Saturday with price hopes of $779,000 to $839,000 A swimming pool and deck for outdoor entertaining are among more recent updates to the 886sq m property but Mr Grgic said the house itself had been sympathetically updated The updated kitchen now has stainless steel appliances the laundry and the kitchen but they have not changed the essence of what it was like when it was built,” he said it has that huge pool and entertainment area and access to shedding as well as the style and some people are coming in and loving that as well.” The open-plan design was ahead of its time with sliding doors providing an outdoor connection from the kitchen The large deck is right off the living area a high pitched ceiling and exposed brick walls — now painted white — are another Mid-Century throwback in the second loungeroom The main bedroom on the ground floor has built-in wardrobes and a two-way ensuite while a renovated bathroom services three further bedrooms upstairs “Primarily I thought with the big block we would have a lot of investors and developers but it seems to be really families looking to a have a home and good lifestyle,” Mr Grgic said “We have known for a while that people love that Mid-Century type of living and this is a really good example of it.” It’s been four months since fire destroyed Vallis IGA with one nearby business calling the loss “a disaster” But work is underway to rebuild the supermarket that was a valued part of the Hamlyn Heights community A HAMLYN Heights house has sold for almost $200,000 more than initially expected thanks to motivated Melbourne buyers The couple, who work in the medical industry, snapped up 10 Kirriemuir St for $745,000 Alistair Tehan and Jessica Nicholls have been searching for a home in Geelong for a year-and-a- half ”We’ve been looking to move down for 18 months,” Mr Tehan said Mr Tehan found the distinctive 1960s throwback charming two-to-three bedrooms with a bit of yard to see what happened “We bid for a number of places in Highton but just didn’t have enough.” agent Wayne Baker said the bidding was “insane” The feedback we had was in the high $500,000s into the $600,000s — how far into the $600,000s “There was no mention of getting into the $700,000s for a three-bedroom “It’s a massive result for Hamlyn Heights and an unrenovated property.” Geelong auctioneer Tom Luxton and agent Ross Bywater calling the auction Mr Baker believes the inaccessibility of Geelong West is a contributing factor to the growing Hamlyn Heights market “Obviously Geelong West is outpricing a lot of those first-home buyers for what you can get you draw up to Hamlyn Heights and you’re only five or ten minutes away from Pako and the CBD “You’ve got these wonderful big blocks and if you get the right property they’re homes you can do so much with The house has 180 degree views of Corio Bay and out over Geelong CoreLogic data shows that Hamlyn Heights has seen a 11.7 per cent rise in median house sales price in the past year up to $430,000 Indicating the level of growth and demand for property in the suburb 5 Kirriemuir St sold in April for $760,500 there’s nothing like those views,” Mr Baker said Residents of a quiet suburban street in north-west Geelong were shocked to walk out their front door on Sunday afternoon and see a car on its side Portland-based buyers Rachel Stoneman and Mark Peters (right) purchased with their son MAKING a dawn trek from Portland to a Hamlyn Heights auction has paid off for a Western District family who snapped up a hotly contested property on Saturday Two generations of Mark Peters and Rachel Stoneman’s clan will reap the rewards after the couple beat three bidders for the keys to 24 Glenfine Ave They paid $744,000 for the updated three-bedroom house on a 871sq m block which their Geelong-based son Mitchell Peters will live in The result beat price hopes by more than $70,000 as multiple buyers saw value in the corner allotment with permits to construct a second dwelling Ms Stoneman said the block’s long-term flexibility made for an attractive investment which would provide a base for their son in the meantime “We’re from Portland and we got up at 6am this morning to be here,” she said.“Mitchell moved down in August and we have been looking since about December.” Buyers’ advocate Tony Slack bid for the property on the couple’s behalf after Maxwell Collins Geelong auctioneer Shaun Carroll took an opening bid of $650,000 The competition whittled down from four to two once the price passed $715,000 Geelong agent Shaun Carroll calls the auction on Saturday Selling agent Laura Vander Noord said she expected the current planning permit to build a second dwelling in the large backyard to attract developers But it was owner-occupiers who showed the most interest during the campaign The updated house has two spacious living areas with a north-facing aspect bay glimpses and access to a covered outdoor entertainment area The three bedrooms are serviced by a renovated central bathroom