2 days ago
Highett property with jail cell heads to auction
There's a jail cell in this Melbourne backyard — and yes, it still has the toilet.
A former suburban police station with its original lockup still standing behind the house has hit the market in Highett, and buyers are lining up to inspect what could be Melbourne's quirkiest property listing of the year.
While the front looks like any other 1980s-era renovator, step into the backyard and you'll find a fully intact jail cell, complete with barred door, concrete toilet, and more than a few ghost stories from its former life as a police outpost.
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Ray White Carnegie's Aarun Tong said the moment he laid eyes on it, he knew this wasn't just another listing.
'Honestly, it stopped me in my tracks,' Mr Tong said.
'It's definitely one of the most unique features I've ever seen in residential real estate, a bit of Aussie history tucked away in someone's backyard.'
The property sits on a generous 724sq m block opening the door to serious redevelopment potential, subject to council approval, or a bold renovation for buyers keen to preserve its offbeat character.
Mr Tong said buyers will definitely be intrigued.
'There's a novelty factor you just don't see anywhere else. It's not every day you inspect a house and find a jail cell out the back,' he said.
The home also features five bedrooms, two levels of living, a large open-plan kitchen, under-stair storage, detached studio with a 'Full Send' flag, and two backyard storage rooms, one of which could make a perfect workshop or artist's retreat.
There's even a separate powder room outside, adding to the mystery of who used it, officers? suspects? tenants past?
Originally believed to have operated as a local police base until the 1990s, the cell out back is one of the few physical remnants left, and the Ray White Carnegie agent said it is arguably the most unforgettable.
'In its current state, I'd say it leans more towards a development opportunity,' Mr Tong said.
'But it does have a nostalgic charm to it.
'A character-filled renovation isn't out of the question, it just depends on the buyer and their appetite for a project.'
Located moments from Highett Station, Southland Shopping Centre, local schools, parks, and cafes, the property blends Bayside convenience with a backstory that's anything but ordinary.
And while Mr Tong said it's unlikely the cell will ever hold criminals again, it might just hold wine, work-from-home dreams or someone's next big renovation adventure.
'You could do something really cool with it,' he said.
'It's got this bizarre charm that people remember. It's not just another block.'
The home will be auctioned on August 2 at 1pm.
