‘They deserve it’: Vendors sell family home of 45 years for $1.8 million
Sydney Morning Herald
by Wes MountainFebruary 21, 2026
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A family home in Bentleigh East, which had been passed down through generations for 45 years, sold at auction for $1.8 million—a $200,000 surplus over its $1.5 to $1.6 million reserve. The two-story, four-bedroom property, featuring preserved original timber skirting and floorboards along with modern updates like a new kitchen and solar panels, attracted intense bidding from three buyers. A young couple ultimately outbid a pair of investors in increments of $5000 and $2000, securing the home after a tense auction process. The vendors, who are retiring to Gippsland, expressed pride in their achievement, noting that the sale reflects the property's value and their years of care.
Meanwhile, another high-profile sale occurred in Fitzroy North, where a lavishly renovated former milk bar sold for $5.1 million—nearly $1 million above its $4.2 million reserve. The four-bedroom Victorian weatherboard home, redesigned by architects Kennedy Nolan, boasts a landscaped central courtyard and exposed concrete and timber details. Bidding started at $3.2 million but quickly escalated in rapid increments of $20,000 and $50,000 before surpassing the reserve. A young family, already established in the area with children, won the property, while the vendors returned to their hometown in Newcastle, NSW, planning to replicate their success with another renovation project.
In other notable sales, a two-bedroom townhouse in Alphington sold for $1.575 million, exceeding
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/21/2026