Canberra auctions: Mid-century gem leads busy auction weekend

Canberra’s busy auction weekend delivered mixed results, with sales including established family homes and a standout mid-century property.

The latter, at 29 Araba Street, Aranda, drew two registered bidders on Saturday and sold under the hammer for $1.45 million.

Hive Property’s Sarah Turnbull said there had been strong interest in the property throughout the campaign, and added that its mid-century design appealed to niche buyers.

Designed by Trevor Gibson, the architecturally impressive residence offers six bedrooms, a custom library, a breakfast room, dining and living areas, three bathrooms, an entertainment deck and a double carport.

On a 754-square-metre block and framed by mature gardens, the sun-drenched house is located just moments from Aranda bushland reserve walking trails.

In Lyneham, Marq Property’s Justin Taylor sold the four-bedroom house at 18 Longstaff Street at auction for $1.275 million.

Taylor said the auction “took a few minutes to get going, but after the opening bid of $1 million, there was strong competitive bidding” between the five registered contenders. The property had a price guide of between $1.1 million and $1.2 million.

Ideally positioned close to local schools, vibrant shopping strips and sporting facilities, and owned by one family for 65 years, the well-maintained house provides spacious accommodation, including multiple living areas, well-proportioned bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage.

Elsewhere, Impact Properties’ Shaun Iqbal passed in the beautifully updated four-bedroom house at 1 Maclurcan Street, Franklin.

Positioned in one of Franklin’s most convenient pockets, the modernised home features expansive, sun-filled accommodation and is now offered for sale with an asking price of around $1.1 million.

Verv Property’s Jason Roses also passed in the character-filled three-bedroom house at 77 Wattle Street, O’Connor, which is now listed for sale at $1.475 million.

Located just moments from the Lyneham shops and iconic Tilley’s Cafe, the stylishly updated 1950s double-brick house features a modern extension and offers three bedrooms, a study, a rumpus room, two bathrooms and a garage.

Auction sales during the week proved more elusive, but one standout was the two-bedroom townhouse at 58 Dexter Street, Cook, which sold through Belle Property’s Yosh Yewdall for $817,000.

Clearance rates held steady at 62 per cent last weekend, well up on the 49 per cent recorded a year ago. It was a big weekend for Canberra with 144 auctions scheduled, of which 134 were reported, 83 sold, 22 passed in and 19 withdrawn.