Westlakes Back In Demand

Newcastle Herald

Saturday June 22, 2002

Sally Croxton

ACREAGE properties in southern Lake Macquarie have gone off the boil but Morisset and Toronto agents are reporting a recent surge in inquiries.

The heightened interest is right on cue for Ian Taylor of Ray White Morisset who has just listed the Cooranbong country retreat of Sydney North Shore-based architect and builder Glenn Carless and his wife Vivienne.

Priced at $1.1million the 15.38ha Yarren Grove Stud at 88 Deeves Rd was Cooranbong's original dairy.

The family bought it 15 years ago for a weekender and built a new house adjoining the more-than-a-century-old homestead which was renovated for guest accommodation. The work won Mr Carless the 1995 Master Builders Association award for a country homestead.

Now the kids have grown out of the horse riding stage the family is selling the country estate with all the furniture, fittings and even the resident ponies, cattle and the boys' motorbikes (see the land and acreages section for details).

Mr Taylor expects the sale to make a record for Cooranbong but not for nearby Mandalong where a $1.2million sale was achieved a couple of years ago. He would like to see it go to a local, but expected it to sell to a Sydney buyer.

`Sydney buyers don't get hung up on the price so much because they know even if they pay more than a place is worth today they're going to pick it up in a few months anyway,' he said. `The locals have these preconceived ideas and refuse to acknowledge what is happening.'

Mr Taylor said it was impossible to satisfy the demand for vacant acreages of about 2ha and medium sized acreages didn't last long with Morisset's position close to the freeway and Lake Macquarie proving a winner.

Country cosinessACCORDING to Jill Pyke from the same agency, the surge in people looking for acreages has as much to do with winter as the market. The temptation of a log fire and a country lifestyle inflamed interest every winter, she said.

The cold season has certainly seen a turnaround in the fortunes of a property at 2 Lake View Rd, Kilaben Bay. Paul Campbell of LJ Hooker, Toronto, took the four-bedroom property on just under 1ha to auction in April where it was passed in at $450,000. It then went on the market for $499,000.

Last weekend he had four people, one from Sydney and three locals, chasing it and finished with contracts signed for $510,000, $11,000 over the asking price, to a Marmong Point buyer.

`The call for small rural is very strong at the moment,' he said. `Over the past few days there have been 20 to 30 calls on that property because it's about the only small acreage for sale in the area.'

Mr Campbell has also had success in selling a Western red cedar clad home on an absolute waterfront 990sq metre block at 11 Brighton Ave, Toronto. It was bought for $800,000 by a high-profile local businessman the day before the June 13 auction.

Mr Campbell achieved the record price in the Toronto area a few months ago, selling a waterfront in Kilaben Rd, Kilaben Bay for $1,115,000.

He has made another two recent hefty waterfront sales that prove that segment of the market remains strong.

One was at 120 Skye Point Rd, Coal Point, where a split-level four-bedroom on an 1130sq metre block without a boat shed or jetty sold for $825,000 to a local buyer.

And at 19 Grant Rd, Coal Point, a two-storey Hardiplank with a triple garage, jetty and boatshed sold for $695,000 with the owner moving to 11 Grant Rd where he bought a house on a wider waterfront block for $866,000 at auction in February.

Top spot, top priceONE of New Lambton's most recognisable heritage properties, Edenglassie at 70 Evescourt Rd, has just been listed with Scott Purnell of Robinson Property.

Owned by Lynette Batterham who has Market Square's Top Shop, the house behind the New Lambton Public School was built around 1900 and extensively remodelled in 1928.

On a beautiful 1159sq metre corner allotment with rolling lawns and camelia trees, the house has three large bedrooms, pressed metal ceilings, fireplaces, polished tallowood floors and a huge cellar. It also has city views to Christ Church Cathedral and beyond.

It is for sale for $650,000.

Feeling for LornBUILT 10 years earlier, circa 1890, is another lovely heritage property, this one in picturesque Roxburgh St, Lorn.

Lorn farmers Douglas and Laurel Tilse have owned Akora at No 6 since 1981, using it for their family and latterly renting it out.

The three-bedroom property on about 800sq metres offers sought-after period features including a return veranda through a set of original French doors.

They have listed the property for July 13 auction with Julie Hillas of Tony Cant Real Estate who expects bidding from $220,000. It is open for inspection today between 11am and 11.45am.

Merry MerewetherMEREWETHER was listed as of the Home Price Guide's hot auction suburbs around Australia last month after six sales from nine auctions netted $3.3million, an average price of $551,000.

One that will not go under the hammer as set for July 13 is 42 Kempster Rd. The house on a 700sq metre block with ocean and city views sold through Shermin Chan of Street Real Estate for $480,000 in just two days.

At Lloyd St, Merewether, where Walkom Linehans First National recently sold a house for a Newcastle record of $1.85million, a retired Newcastle pharmacist and his wife have just listed their stunning-looking property at No 16, also through Sonia Walkom.

With a price tag of more than $900,000, the three-bedroom, three-level house with sensational coastal views is advertised today for the first time.