Unique Templestowe house above 8m void hits market for $1m

A Melbourne house is up for grabs at a fraction of what you’d normally pay in the suburb, but there’s an 8m-high catch.

39 Lawanna Drive, Templestowe, comes with breathtaking views … and an equally breathtaking drop beneath it.

A Templestowe house that soars above an about 8m-high drop has Melbourne homebuyers polarised.

With a $1m-$1.1m asking price it’s just a fraction of the $1.65m buyers typically pay for a perch in the suburb.

But its unusual design, that leaves a significant portion of the residence and its balcony hovering above a towering void, has buyers asking if “it’s safe and secure”.

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Built by its owner architect in the 1990s and balanced on the bricks and mortar of its lower-ground garage and a series of Karri timber stilts, the 39 Lawanna Drive home is being sold for the first time since its construction.

And Jellis Craig Doncaster’s Chris Savvides said its vertigo-inducing views were the central focus for buyers, and its unusual design was the reason behind its bargain price tag — confirming the reserve would be within the quoted range on auction day next month.

So far it’s had “strong interest” with 45 groups through its first open for inspection on Saturday — mostly a mix of inner-city professionals aged from their late 20s to 40s.

The balcony isn’t for the faint of heart.

But the views outside the living area might well be worth a raised heart rate.

While it wasn’t for everyone, Mr Savvides said those who did like it were taking a very close look at the unusual residence.

“I’ve never seen anything like this, there’s no comparisons … but people are intrigued by it,” Mr Savvides said.

“The view is amazing, but people are saying they’re not sure (about how it achieves the view).

“And It’s nor for young kids, or the elderly.”

The agent said he’s getting a lot of questions about whether “it’s safe and secure”.

And is referring those questions to the vendors more than $120,000 effort to refit and renew the home’s incredible rear balcony.

The spacious balcony has been renewed in a more than $100,000 update recently.

From the front, the home’s cedar-timber lined facade gives little sense of what is on its far side.

The home has also stood in place since the early 90s, with its architect builder buying it as a steeply sloping block of land for just $88,300 in 1988 — then building the eye-catching residence.

It’s still standing after a number of earthquakes, one as nearby as Sunbury in 2023, as well as countless storms that have followed its construction.

Mr Savvides said braver buyers in sturdy footwear had been walking down to the bottom of the block to get a feel for the mammoth height the home stands above ground — estimated to be around 8m and close to twice the height of the main residence.

The previous owners very much embraced the height, with the living area and even the main bedroom both positioned to make the most of the views.

Big views are joined by big living spaces, thanks to the home’s unusual approach to an extension.

The main bedroom also makes the most of the views on offer.

Mr Savvides said the next owners were also likely to be looking at ways to fill in some of the negative space beneath the house — though the existing lower-ground level would already suit for conversion to a unit, home office or as is for a car enthusiast.

The 966sq m property is slated for auction at 2pm on August 16.

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Originally published as Unique Templestowe house above 8m void hits market for $1m