Latest news with #MarcusFalconer
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Rippleside renovation pay-off continues
A decade-old renovation to a bayside character home continues to pay off for subsequent owners as buyers continued to favour finished products over projects. A four-bedroom Edwardian residence at 17 Margaret St, Rippleside, was snapped up last week after spending about three weeks on the market. The 431sq m property had been listed for $1.375m to $1.45m, selling last week for an undisclosed price close to the bottom of the range. Rare Newtown brick home beats hopes by $110K The home last sold in 2020 for $1.25m. Jellis Craig Geelong agent Marcus Falconer said the location and renovation were drawcards to the property, which has a rear, north-facing backyard entertainment area with a pool. 'A group from Belmont was looking just to be a little bit closer to public transport and family,' Mr Falconer said. 'They headed down the path that it was easier to buy something renovated than go through the process themselves. 'People are certainly going through costings which are continually coming up more viable just to buy it done.' The home is close to Rippleside Beach, parklands and North Geelong train station. Heritage features of the home recognised by the National Trust and the City of Greater Geelong include ornate hallway fretwork, fireplaces, a bullnose veranda and intricate iron lacework. These blend with modern updates such as plantation shutters, polished concrete flooring in the living areas, ducted heating and a garage with direct access to the home. The four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, are set away from the living area via a wide hallway. The large open-plan living zone features an expansive lounge, dining and kitchen area perfect for families. The chef's kitchen includes premium finishes, wide stone benchtops, soft-close cabinetry, a butler's pantry and a Falcon dual oven with gas top. The area opens through timber and glass sliding doors to a north-facing covered deck and electric and solar-heated swimming pool.
ABC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Prospectors flock to Goldfields after large nugget unearthed
Veteran prospector Chris MacGregor had one thought when he heard about a chunk of gold that weighed nearly a kilogram being found in Western Australia's Goldfields recently — "you lucky people". The 895-gram nugget found by prospectors near the Goldfields town of Sandstone is worth about $165,000. "I'm sure they put in the hours, which is what it's all about, and good luck to them," Mr MacGregor said. The Perth resident is one of many visitors making the most of a booming prospecting season in the region. Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association of WA president James Allison said the discovery of the large nugget showed "the big gold" was "still out there". "With the technology now, there's a lot of people going over old ground and still finding gold — that's why all the caravan parks … they're all full," he said. "It's just the allure. If you find an ounce of gold – that's about the size of a 10-cent piece – that's worth $5,000." Gold was first found in the region by prospectors Arthur Bayley and William Ford in 1892. Australia's Golden Outback chief executive Marcus Falconer said finds such as the Sandstone nugget were "important" in keeping the mystique of the Goldfields alive. "People decide to – like back in the gold rush days – come to seek these things out," he said. City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor Glenn Wilson said the current record high gold prices had certainly excited people. "There's gold fever getting around at the moment," he said. Prospectors have been flocking to the region for 130 years but Cr Wilson said gold tourism was a largely untapped market. "Prospectors might spend … up to three or four months out on the land looking for that elusive nugget," he said. "I think there's a massive opportunity … to harness and to further understand what that prospecting community does deliver." Greg and Liz Watson own a company that operates guided prospecting camps about 60 kilometres north of Leonora. Ms Watson said the demand for their tours was insatiable this season. "We've had to expand the amount of people we have on the tours," she said. Despite the obvious demand, the pair said running a gold tourism business involved more than just teaching people how to find the shiny stuff. "They have to be cut out for it, because you're dealing with so many people," Mr Watson said. "Anyone coming into it needs to really have a serious look at it. "You need to have full insurance, you need to be accredited in some way." Vicky Smith went on her first tour with the Watsons in 2023 and said she enjoyed the isolation and open landscape more than the idea of finding gold. So when Greg and Liz Watson needed an assistant she traded in her child protection job for a six-month stint in the red dirt. "It's lovely to be out here," she said. Despite an almost lifelong commitment to combing through the scrub in WA's gold country, Mr MacGregor and his detector – affectionately dubbed the "Wailing Wand" – are yet to hit the jackpot. "It's a very rare thing to come by — you've got to put in the time," he said. Mr MacGregor said finding gold was only part of the joy of prospecting. He said he would keep sleeping in his swag under the stars for as long as he was able. "Don't do it for the gold — come for everything else that's out there," Mr MacGregor said. Mr Allison said tourists hoping to strike it lucky were welcome in the region, but stressed that safety should be the number one priority. "We've seen many, many cases over the years of prospectors getting lost and perishing, and they're found within 50 metres of their vehicle," he said. Last year the bodies of a father and son were found after they went missing while prospecting in the Murchison region. The body of Vietnam veteran William Wadsworth was also found last year, months after he went missing while prospecting near Norseman. Mr Allison said water, food, shelter and a personal locator beacon were indispensable for prospectors, who should also let people know of their plans. "It doesn't matter if you're overprepared," he said.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Riverside renovator sells $140k over price hopes in Highton
A bidding quartet confirmed Highton's riverside pocket remains hot property with an original two-level home selling $140,000 above price hopes. The mid century cream brick house at 32 Cara Rd, Highton, was snapped up for $890,000 at Saturday's auction after four bidders emerged to secure the property. Jellis Craig Geelong agent Marcus Falconer said the 876sq m property attracted strong interest during the campaign, with plenty of potential buyers mulling the opportunity from north of the border. The property had been listed with $750,000 price hopes. 'There was great interest from Queensland and New South Wales,' Mr Falconer said. 'I think a few were looking from an investment perspective.' Mr Falconer reported the full gamut of interested parties in the property, with people also looking to renovate or knockdown and rebuild. Ultimately, the neighbourhood's residential appeal won out. 'The buyers want to renovate it as a family home,' he said. 'The underbidder wanted to a knockdown rebuild, who would be land banking for the short term. Others wanted to occupy.' As a renovation project, the house has plenty to work with, from decorative cornices offering an glimpse of Art Deco style. The house has hardwood floorboards, sash windows, including large picture windows in the main living room looking through the trees and across the river valley. There are five bedrooms and two bathrooms and an updated kitchen and dining room split across two levels. But the position is the key element that had potential buyers drooling over this property, about 200m from Barwon River parkland at the end of the street. The property is also near Highton Village shops and in the Belmont High School zone.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Bold bid snatches East Geelong ‘Golden Triangle' home prior to auction
A Sydney buyer who swooped on a renovated period home in East Geelong's 'Golden Triangle' has ensured it's off the market before it was scheduled to go to auction this weekend. The ornate, four-bedroom character house that gives way to a modern, split-level extension complete with a bright atrium sold for $1.55m. The 607sq m property at 310 Myers St, East Geelong, was scheduled to be auctioned on Saturday with a price expectation of $1.5m. Jellis Craig Geelong agent Marcus Falconer said the aggressive offer after inspecting the property mid-campaign ensured it would come off that market before other potential buyers had their ducks in a row. Mr Falconer said the buyer was relocating to Geelong, where there is already family. 'She came down and just put forward an aggressive offer pre auction to secure it,' Mr Falconer said. 'There was strong interest from locals and people relocating to the area. She beat a few to the punch that weren't quite ready to pull the trigger.' Mr Falconer said the Golden Triangle position, close to the Garden St shopping village and Geelong's botanic gardens, and the heritage facade convinced the buyer to make a move. 'East Geelong is probably one of the best-kept secrets for Geelong. I think local people have started to give it the due attention that outside people who love it do.' The boulevard was also a key attraction for the sellers, who enjoyed the wide, tree-lined street and those surrounding it. Its proximity to East Geelong village, schools, hospitals, and two train stations – South Geelong and Geelong – makes it the 'ultimate commutable location to Melbourne, Mr Falconer said. The house also offers a flexible floorplan, with up to five bedrooms or up to four living zones. Many classic period features of the timber Californian, such as stained glass windows and in-built fireplaces, have been retained, while renovations by the previous owners and recent updates by the vendors have generated additional space and updated the home with modern conveniences. The owners added a modern touch in new renovations to the bathrooms and kitchen, flooring and painting. It's the most expensive sale in East Geelong for two years. The suburb's median house price has dropped nearly 18 per cent in three years to $765,000, according to PropTrack data.
