12-06-2025
Melbourne family buys $1.92m acreage sight unseen
A Melbourne family who hadn't even inspected the home stole the keys to an over six-hectare Diggers Rest estate at auction.
The dual-dwelling property was snapped up for $1.92m after the family fell in love with it on the spot.
The rare lifestyle compound at 35 Lance Rd was the city's top reported sale of the weekend, with four family groups bidding in front of a spirited crowd before the property passed in at $1.85m and was swiftly negotiated to a $1.92m deal.
Offering two fully self-contained homes, landscaped gardens and sweeping views toward the CBD, the property had a price guide of $1.75m-$1.95m and proved a magnet for buyers seeking space, flexibility and long-term upside.
Ray White Sunbury director Aaron Hill said it was one of the most unique offerings he'd seen so close to Melbourne.
'You're only 15 minutes to the airport and about 30 (minutes) to the Melbourne CBD, but you've got over six hectares, a second residence, and room for the whole extended family,' Mr Hill said.
'It's incredibly rare to find this much land and accommodation with city access.'
Mr Hill said the winning buyers — who hadn't inspected the home before auction — turned up unannounced, placed the final bid, and signed contracts after a brief negotiation.
'It really was love at first sight,' he said.
'They own a larger rural property further out and wanted to be closer to the city. This gave them that balance.'
The main residence includes four bedrooms, a master retreat, open fireplace and a separate upstairs apartment with its own kitchen and living space.
The second home, a three-bedroom cottage, is currently tenanted and offers rental income, Airbnb potential or extra family accommodation.
All four bidders were families, with the dual-residence set-up adding extra appeal for multi-generational buyers.
The Ray White Sunbury director said the sale price also reflected strong buyer appetite in Melbourne's western growth corridor, where larger landholdings remain relatively affordable.
'We had another auction in Sunbury the same weekend with five bidders and it also sold above reserve,' Mr Hill said.
'This whole corridor is booming. It's still undervalued compared to suburbs the same distance east, but people are waking up to it.'
While the property is not currently earmarked for rezoning, Mr Hill said the site had long-term subdivision potential.
'It's a classic buy-and-hold opportunity,' he said.
'There are developers already securing similar land nearby.
'In ten years, this could become a very smart investment.'
