Sydney blocks with live electricity substations deemed ‘prime’ land
Bizarre real estate listings for slivers of land were slammed by shocked Aussies before selling under the hammer for unbelievable prices.
Slivers of land occupied by electricity substations have been sold off as “prime” home building sites across parts of Sydney in a move that’s stirred bemused and angry reactions online.
The narrow lots were being offered for sale with live green boxes bolted to the ground and easements that allowed maintenance workers access to the electricity kiosks for repairs and upkeep.
Some have labelled the sales “disgusting” and an example of “greed”, while others have expressed concerns about the potential noise and disruption of living around functioning electricity infrastructure.
The properties – most of which are about 100 sqm – are spread across prestigious north shore suburbs including Hunters Hill, Longueville, Willoughby, Mosman and Chatswood.
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Three of the eight sites went to auction earlier this month. No price guides were released ahead of the auctions but selling agent, Belle Property’s Simon Harrison said three lots at Lane Cove, Longueville and Willoughby all sold under the hammer for between $800,000 up to circa $1.8 million each.
A 101 sqm Mosman block, which goes to auction April 30, has a guide price of $475,000. The listing describes it as offering “untapped potential”.
It’s understood the properties are being sold off by a subsidiary of Ausgrid, which no longer needs them. They are zoned R2 for low density residential.
Mr Harrison, the agent co-ordinating most of the sales, said the sites were “too unique” to price.
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“There’s nothing to compare them to,” he said. “I’ve never sold anything like them.”
The properties were attracting “a lot of interest” because they were an opportunity to get into popular north shore suburbs for a cheaper price, Mr Harrison said.
“We are getting some interest from first-home buyers and mum and dad-types who want to build something. You’d have to be very creative,” he said.
Social media has erupted over one of the listings – the Longueville block that already went to auction – with comments ranging from puzzled to furious.
The listing for the Kenneth St property, which ended up selling for up to $1.8 million, claimed the “compact block offers endless potential for those with vision”.
“This has to be a late April fool’s joke,” said one comment. Another said: “God they are desperate”.
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A common theme was disappointment that the site was not being used for open space instead.
“How about planting trees and flora, create a small park for wild life and people to access. That block is not suitable for a home or town house. That would be a shoebox of a unit with no yard. Absolutely ridiculous. It’s all about $$$. What a joke,” one social media user said.
Others poked fun at the listing, with comments like “Living the Australian dream” and “Kentucky Fried Tenant when the substation explodes”.
Mr Harrison explained that the properties were being sold with easements for the continued operation of the electricity kiosks. He said they did not “make noise” and “were safe”.
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Some of the strongest interest was from direct neighbours wanting to expand the sizes of their blocks, he added.
This was especially true for the substation site in Hunters Hill, a much smaller L-shaped block on Foss St.
“That’s one of the trickier ones,” he said. “There’s one in Lane Cove West that would be wide enough for a driveway.
“For most of these, you could build smaller one- to two-bedroom houses but it needs creativity.”
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