Latest news with #DavidCortous
News.com.au
15-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Geelong trophy home Raith on track to break record at circa $9m
A potential buyer setting up an off-market inspection of Newtown's Raith scoffed when McGrath, Geelong director David Cortous boasted it was the city's best home. After visiting the home overlooking the Fyansford Deviation, he later told him 'you were right', Mr Cortous said. The five-bedroom trophy home at 2A Raith Terrace originally built in 1864 and more recently sympathetically renovated and extended by renowned builder David McDonald has been listed for sale with price hopes between $8.5m and $9.3m. At that price guide, the 6434sq m property stands to break its own record $6.3m as Geelong's most expensive home. Heritage documents show the home was erected in stages from 1864 and 1881 when the iron veranda encircled the original polychromatic brick building. While the major works were completed for solicitor J H Grey, the nine times mayor of Newtown and Chilwell, it's most famous resident was Geelong Cats legend Bob Davis. Geelong businessman Simon Middleton was the last owner to sell. Mr Cortous said the property returns to the market after the present owners put their own spin to the home. 'They've just put their own touches on the property. They changed the kitchen around a bit, they've changed the office. It was a living room, it's now an office.' The property is 'just perfect' from the gardens to the interiors, Mr Cortous said. 'There is not one single dollar to be spent on that property, just walk in and place your furniture because every single thing has been done, from external to internal, gardens to bathrooms to kitchen and even the three-bedroom cottage is fully renovated and is finished in marble as well. 'It's got the beautiful views out the back and you're not affected by the Deviation because you're too elevated. It's just a serene property.' Expressions of interest for Raith close on July 21.
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Five in play as dream builders sniff the potential of 1950s home
Five bidders raised their hands for a 1950s brick house in Newtown amid a further indicator of improving buyer sentiment in the property market. The three-bedroom house at 8 Garlick Ave was snapped up for $820,000, selling for $70,000 above the 525sq m property's reserve price. McGrath Geelong agent David Cortous said the broad field of interest in the property underlined the improving conditions for sellers following a second interest-rate cut in May. 'There was interest of quite a few different buyers,' Mr Cortous said. 'There was first-home buyers, there was families that were going to come there and love, renovate and maybe do some type of extension. 'And there was actually two that were looking for a project – to do it up and then re-sell it. 'That was the buyer in the end.' Mr Cortous said part of the attraction was the property's location, on a street opposite the Geelong College Junior School and near Elderslie Reserve. But the property had a lot to offer for a renovator, or redeveloper. 'It was a 1950s brick, so it had a bit of charm to it and it was very much a blank canvas,' he said. 'It really, really neat but very much a blank canvas.' Mr Cortous said the property offered possibilities for different buyer groups. 'It would be a good property to hold for an investor, a good property for a family to get in and live there for the next few years as set up home.' There was plenty of original charm apparent in the house, including the kitchen and central bathroom. The property last sold for $65,000 in 1987 and had been rented since 2008. It was one of three properties taken to auction to sell in Newtown at the weekend, including a three-bedroom weatherboard house that also offered buyers to chance to renovate or redevelop. A property at 4 Coronal Ave, Newtown, sold for $790,000, which was at the top of its quoted range. HF Richardson, Newtown agent Tony Hyde said a local builder, acting on behalf of a Sydney investors, secured the home as a potential renovation or rebuild. Mr Hyde said the property passed in at $760,000 after the one bidder emerged for the property. Several first-home buyers were keen, but were unable to bid at auction, he said. 'They'll be looking at either renovating the existing house or rebuilding,' Mr Hyde said. 'It's such a well-held area, a lot of people don't know that it's a Newtown area. 'It's close to schools, you've got the Geelong College Junior and Middle Schools around the corner and it's just off Aberdeen St, so it's close to the ring road and the shopping centres and it's all flat, easy walking.' The much-loved family home offers has great scope to value-add through a renovation, rebuild or a development on the 613sq m block. A favourable north-facing rear orientation with established gardens and a lush lawn adding to the overall appeal of the property. A rare 1146sq m vacant block at 3-5 Stinton Ave, Newtown was snapped up for $1.882m in the biggest sale reported in the past week.
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Modernist Highton home scores $110k bonus, selling for the first time since 1964
Devotees of Mid-Century architecture are proving to be large in number and deep in pocket with a classic Highton home selling for more than $100,000 above price hopes. The three top bidders for a four-bedroom Mid-Century classic selling for the first time in Highton's Reigate Rd were in the industry, with the two underbidders both architects, McGrath, Geelong agent Tom Harrison said after Saturday's auction. The two-storey home at 66 Reigate Rd sold for $960,000 after five bidders raised a hand for the residence designed by Walter Hodgson, built by his family and selling for the first time since 1964. Mr Harrison said after a slow start, the competition for the home intensified at the auction called by McGrath Geelong director David Cortous. And once contracts were signed, the family and buyers continued chatting about what's next for the beautifully presented mid century residence. 'It was going to be popular just based on the rarity of it and we ended up having five groups put their hand up,' Mr Harrison said. The number one reason for the home's popularity was its mid-century architecture, he said. 'The best two of three auctions we've had have been mid-century homes. Both campaigns had 100-plus groups through. 'It's just that style, and with this one the facade was super-unique with floor to ceiling windows the whole way across, a triple garage underneath and a double carport at the back. And it was Reigate Rd.' Mr Harrison said the buyers first saw the property while it was featured on a mid century architecture Instagram page. 'That's where they first saw it, then they go on and just got all that exposure because it was super unique. The green carpet, the straw ceiling and the cool story behind it.' The untouched mid century was a true time capsule which the original owner's family pitched in to finish while he was away overseas is selling for the first time in Highton. The custom 1964 house was designed by local architect Walter Hodgson, who was also responsible for Belmont's Buena Vista motel. Mr Harrison said the buyers don't expect to change much. 'They just want to modernise what they need to and keep the rest,' he said. The beautifully preserved interior avoids artificial materials, instead showcasing natural materials such as the pressed straw ceiling, solid blackwood internal doors and alpine ash walls. The owner's son said the house was a labour of love for his engineer father who spent several months working in Mexico during the build but stayed intensively involved through long, detailed letters. He said his parents were attracted to the elevated site's panoramic views over Geelong and the opportunity to incorporate a large garage space where they could restore vintage cars. The original kitchen retains ceiling-mounted cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling windows across both the front and back of the house remain. The family member said a carport had been added for ease of access but nothing had changed inside apart from the hardwood floors now being carpeted.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Bespoke Bruce Warren home sells in central Geelong laneway
A bespoke home built in a little-known laneway in Geelong's inner east has sold very quickly as buyers cottoned on to the serenity on offer. The home was originally built as a family home by Geelong builder Bruce Warren and has transacted for the second time as the present owners move to Queensland, McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said. The 343sq m property just off Fitzroy St at 8-10 Wilson Place sold for $1.7m after five weeks on the market. 'It was a pretty popular property, actually there was two or three buyers on it,' Mr Cortous said. 'It was a really good product. Obviously it's tucked away down a laneway, so it's a nice, quiet spot. 'Laneways aren't for everybody but some people really like them because they're quiet, little dead-end lanes. 'The product itself is amazing. Bruce did a fantastic job with that one, it was actually his home.' The house features two kitchens (the butler's pantry doubles as a full second kitchen, both fitted with fridges, ovens and stone benches), an extensive outdoor entertaining area and multiple living zones. A covered outdoor area is within the roofline offers an outdoor kitchen and seating area to enjoy the northern sunshine. The bathroom and ensuite have floor-to-ceiling tile work, stone benches, freestanding bath, stunning matt black tapware and underfloor heating. There's hydronic heating, CCTV and double glazed windows throughout. The location is close to Geelong's main city hospitals and is walking distance to the Garden St cafe strip, botanic gardens and waterfront. Mr Cortous said the home offered great architecture and great execution. 'People now want that turnkey stuff because it's expensive to build, it's expensive to renovate. 'There's probably more value in something like that because you don't have to go through the pain of building such a nice property.'
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
New era dawns for landmark Geelong home opposite Pevensey Park
A landmark heritage property described as 'Geelong's most iconic residential home' has hit the market opposite Pevensey Park. The grand, six-bedroom, six-bathroom Pevensey House is poised to fetch $5.95m after a painstaking restoration by the current owners. They added an open-plan extension to the rear of the two-storey home several years after buying it in 2007 and have returned its original Federation Queen Ann features to their former glory. Future decided for entire mountain top property near Geelong Landmark 1951 'trophy home' Newtown Brae for sale A distinctive, octagonal tower is the crowning glory of the residence, which occupies a prominent 1136sq m corner site at 17 Pevensey Cres, Geelong. McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said the lookout offered views right across Geelong and the nearby botanic gardens. He said the house, originally built in 1891 for Geelong businessman Robert Scott, an ironmonger and importer, was extraordinary. 'It has quite a history over the years, it has been a bed and breakfast, I think it was two dwellings at one point before these guys bought it and did the renovation on it,' Mr Cortous said. 'It's an incredible house – the condition of it is just remarkable. 'For the size of the home, let alone the land it sits on, in this day and age you wouldn't be able to built it for that price. For what it is, it shows exceptional value. If that property was sitting in Melbourne it would be $20m.' Nine decorative fireplaces, extraordinary leadlight windows and an entrance hall showcasing archways, marble floors and a grand mahogany staircase are among restored features that contribute to Pevensey House's standing as one of Victoria's finest heritage residences. A music room, a dining room with a built-in bar and a formal lounge with a bay window overlooking Pevensey Park are among the traditional highlights. They're complemented by a newer open-plan living zone at the rear where custom steel-framed windows take in the pool and immaculate gardens. Park views are also a highlight of the first floor main bedroom suite, which Mr Cortous said was more like a private wing incorporating a sitting room, home office, bathroom and balcony. He said it could be accessed either via the grand main staircase, the commercial, hotel-style lift or second private internal staircase. 'It's got a separate self-contained unit there as well. They don't Airbnb it, it's for private use only, but there is an opportunity there if you want to get an income from the property,' he said.
