Dump in Brisbane's Dutton Park soars $170,000 over reserve

A contender for Australia’s worst house has rocketed almost $170,000 over reserve.

The uninhabitable cottage of rickety, pest-infested timber in an inner Brisbane suburb was auctioned in front of a crowd on Saturday.

A dozen eager bidders were willing to battle with big money for the jumble of rotting scrap wood.

Bidding opened at $400,000 and quickly hit reserve, Ray White agent Gunther Behrendt told Domain.

The hammer fell at $668,000, which was $168,000 over reserve.

The advertising for 50 Deighton Road in Dutton Park didn’t shy from the cold hard facts – it is a dump.

“WORST HOUSE BEST STREET…” the listing declared.

“There is no way to sugar coat this…”

Mr Behrendt, who is also a licensed builder, said its dilapidated condition was a draw card.

Pre-1946 homes in Brisbane are well protected and obtaining knock-down approvals can be difficult, he said.

Although the value is in the land, it had to be marketed as a house.

“That it was in such bad condition became a selling point,” Mr Behrendt said.

What the ramshackle deceased estate also had going for it was coveted location, location, location,

Dutton Park is a tightly-held and highly sought suburb, Mr Behrendt said.

Demand in the postcode is driven by the high-peforming local Brisbane State High. The rundown property is in the school’s enrolment zone.

The derelict real estate was bought by a local family.