Melbourne real estate: the homes that went viral in 2019
The luxury homes of a race car driver and international cricketer, a $45 million Hawthorn mansion and an I Dream of Jeannie-style Coolaroo pad were among our most popular listings this year.
A Hawthorn mansion with a $45 million price tag, an Indian cricketer’s Clyde North family home and a Coolaroo house that went viral thanks to its I Dream of Jeannie-style interior were among Melbourne’s most popular homes of 2019.
Avon Court at 18-20 Shakespeare Grove, Hawthorn, racked up more than 92,000 views on realestate.com.au — the highest number in Victoria’s capital — as it lingered on the market all year with eye-watering eight-figure price hopes.
The average view count for Melbourne properties was 1412.
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The elaborate pad features nine bedrooms, seven kitchens, seven bathrooms, two pools, an 18-seat cinema, a library, ballroom, billiards room, bar, wine cellar gym, sauna, 10-car garage, staff quarters and two rooftop terraces.
It was one of several wow-factor homes to draw eyeballs on the listings website this year, with realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee describing Aussies as avid property stickybeaks.
Ms Conisbee said half the respondents to realestate.com.au’s 2019 Property Seekers survey admitted they “regularly look on our site just to dream”.
“We’re definitely fascinated by property,” Ms Conisbee said.
“There seems to be a strong push to premium areas in Melbourne.”
A trio of Toorak mansions boasting features including Gold Class-style cinemas, pools, expanses of marble and gyms each accrued between 52,000 and 68,000 views this year.
One of them, 19 Albany Rd, scored a $10.6 million sale, while 12 Lansell Rd continues to seek a buyer for $23-$25 million and 29 Balmerino Ave’s listing with a $12-$13.2 million guide has been taken off the market.
Also popular was racing car driver Max Twigg’s Tuscan-style property in Harkaway, which featured its own go-kart track and attracted 75,582 views after hitting the market in February for $13.5 million.
Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan’s family home at 6 Forest Drive, Clyde North, notched more than 57,000 views before its $935,000 sale in August.
O’Brien Keysborough director Darren Hutchins said “celebrity factor” brought buyers and stickybeaks to the luxury four-bedroom home in droves.
“There is a massive Indian contingent through Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs,” Mr Hutchins said.
“We’ve now listed quite a few properties with Indians in the community off the back of the campaign.”
And a Coolaroo home that was likened to Barbie’s house and the inside of a genie’s bottle after hitting the market for $450,000 clocked almost 55,000 views.
Houseproud grandmother Jamalate Saleh spent “many years” crafting 30 Norval Cres’s interior of bold colours, blingy chandeliers and regal furnishings, some of which she imported from Dubai.
But she ultimately couldn’t let her home of 18 years go, First National Meadow Heights director Jalal Abdallah said: “She said, ‘I’ve done all this work, I don’t want to do it again in a new house’.”
MOST VIEWED MELBOURNE PROPERTIES OF 2019
1. 18-20 Shakespeare Grove, Hawthorn: 92,216 views on realestate.com.au
2. 50 Clara St, South Yarra: 81,830
3. 181 Harkaway Rd, Harkaway: 75,582
4. 19 Albany Rd, Toorak: 68,142
5. 6 Forest Drive, Clyde North: 57,069
6. 17-19 Clowes St, South Yarra: 55,754
7. 30 Norval Cres, Coolaroo: 54,546
8. 12 Lansell Rd, Toorak: 54,507
9. 29 Balmerino Ave, Toorak: 52,892
10. 105 Evesham Drive, Point Cook: 52,740
Melbourne average: 1412 views
Source: realestate.com.au
Originally published as Melbourne real estate: the homes that went viral in 2019