Auction watch: Rare 1960s house in Deakin sells under the hammer

One of Canberra’s most distinctive houses sold for more than $1 million under the hammer on Saturday after a tight bidding war for the property.

The authentic 1960s home at 14 Beauchamp Street in Deakin had been owned by the same family for 50 years before selling for $1.44 million at auction.

More than 60 people, including 16 registered bidders, spilled onto the street to watch the hotly contested sale.

More than 30 bids were made for the three-bedroom, three-bathroom house. The last 13 bids fell between two parties, with small increments eventually edging towards a 33rd and final offer.

The house was designed by Miles Jakl, the architect behind the famous Carousel restaurant at Red Hill.

Floor-to-ceiling glass fills the the living areas on both levels of the house with light, opening the spaces to a private courtyard and an in-ground pool.

The influence of the swinging 60s is apparent throughout the property, from the cabinetry in the kitchen to the tiled bathrooms and use of wood.

The house featured in 100 Canberra Houses: A Century of Capital Architecture, published in 2013 to time with the national capital’s centenary. 

Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Manuka agent Andrew Chamberlain said the listing, which featured black and white images of the house in the 1960s, had captured people’s attention.

“It clearly shows there’s a strong interest and appreciation in Canberra for something different with real architectural interest,” he said. 

“It’s very rare, we would see a property like this maybe enter the market once a year, if that. They’re always hotly contested.

“It’s like an artwork; it’s an investment.”

A couple of suburbs away a former embassy house at 16 Hann Street in Griffith sold for $1.86 million.

Ray White agent Margaret Reynolds said the 1092-square-metre block was large for the area and snapped up by an interstate party.

The house includes a light-filled, open-plan living, dining and kitchen area characterised by polished timber floors, elevated windows and a backdrop of greenery.

Canberra’s clearance rate for Saturday’s auctions was 57 per cent, according to Australian Property Monitors.