At auction: A rare original on a large block

A Yarralumla home that has been in the same family for nearly 60 years is ready to receive its next owners.

The Hutchins Street home that sits on just over 1000 square metres of rare Canberra earth is one of only three original houses left in the street.

Di Bell was a newborn when she moved into the home in 1957, and she and her three sisters enjoyed the best of times living in the area.

“The street was just full of kids,” she says.

“Dad came home one day and mum asked him to pop his head outside and count how many there were for lunch.

“He said, ‘I’ve just counted 30 kids’,” Di says.

Di said she had witnessed much of Canberra’s development and was sure that her dad, Bob Hinchliffe, a carpenter, had “built half of it”.

“They were those great times when kids got kicked out of the house after breakfast and didn’t return until teatime,” she says.

“We used to head down to the lake and go swimming and have such fun.”

Di’s mum recently died and her father is moving to a retirement home as the upkeep of the Hutchins Street residence has become too much for the 88-year-old.

“We have wonderful memories of the house, but it’s time for someone else to enjoy the location,” Di says.

The home is now ready for a makeover or the opportunity for a dream home or dual occupancy.

It sits on a wide, tree-lined street and the level block is only metres from the Yarralumla village restaurants and shops.

Peter Blackshaw Woden and Weston Creek director Shane Killalea said the prime real estate had attracted significant attention.

“There has been unbelievable interest and we’ve handed out more than 20 contracts in the past two weeks,” he says.

No. 23 Hutchins Street, Yarralumla, will be sold by auction on Saturday, August 27, at 12.30pm through Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Woden and Weston Creek agent Shane Killalea. Price guide: $1.3million-plus. EER: 0.0.

Outdoor living all year round

A quiet street in a central location and a house set up for year-round outdoor living are the hallmarks of a Deakin property that is set for auction.

The Barron Street character home was bought by Kayla and Nathan Sutton in 2009 and since then the young couple have updated this family home on one of Deakin’s most keenly sought-after elm-lined streets.

“We love the location; it’s close to everything and the street is so quiet,” Kayla says.

The Suttons upgraded the bathrooms inside and generally updated the decor, but their piece de resistance is a superb, covered outdoor entertaining area with kitchen and open fireplace.

“It’s a great space to entertain family and friends and the open fireplace meant we have been able to use the space all year round,” Kayla says.

The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study and a detached double garage on a 763 square metre block.

23 Barron Street, Deakin, will be sold by auction on Saturday, September 3, at 10am through Belle Property Kingston agents Dan McAlpine and Louise Harget. Price guide $950,000-plus. Inspection by appointment. EER: 1.5.