Erle Levey
Auctions in Noosa may have ended on a quiet note in the last two weeks of 2022 but they hit back strongly on Saturday for the start of this year.
It was three sales out of three at the on-site auctions, with prices showing just how much they have risen over the years.
More than 120 attended the auction of 74 Upper Hastings St, Noosa Heads, with Nic Hunter of Tom Offermann Real Estate.
Held in the street – a testament to the quiet neighbourhood – the auction was of a 686sq m property initially purchased in 1957 for 212 pounds.
The modest two-bedroom, one-bathroom house was built in 1972 and has been in the same family ever since.
The headline Fifty Years Later, Little Cove Cottage Set to Go World Class, said it all about the listing, which had always evoked incredible interest.
Tom Offermann likened it to a barn find: “People see a little cottage and wonder if the owner will sell it. I knew an artist who rented it for many years, and he told me hardly a week went by without someone knocking on the door, asking if the property could be bought.”
Last Saturday, after multi-generational family celebrations over the five decades, the modest Little Cove green and cream cottage with frangipanis out the front, and a rear garden melding with the Noosa National Park reserve, was sold that day.
There were seven very excited registered bidders and after a start of $4.5m then enthusiastic to-ing and fro-ing, auctioneer Gordon Macdonald declared the landmark property sold for $5.75m to interstate buyers with existing local property interests, intent on building their dream home.
At the top of the 200 steps from Hastings St and 700m to Little Cove Beach, it opens up the possibility of Noosa River, North Shore and hinterland views, within a high density zoning of a 12-metre height allowance, subject to council approval.
The two-level house features timber floors, enclosed front verandah with view to hinterland, French doors to terrace, frosted glass sash/louvre window, two queen-size bedrooms; and bathroom with shower and WC. The kitchen/dining comes with new Hisense fridge and stove/cooktop. The lower-level features laundry, two store rooms, WC plus carport.
People have been holidaying in the area over many years, and been wondering what’s going on with the property, Nic Hunter said.
“It’s never been for sale, until now.’’
Saturday also saw the sale at auction of a two-storey house at Sunrise Beach for $1.165m, the proceeds going to charity.
Warren Evans at Laguna Real Estate took the original ’90s house at 7 Columbus Ct, Sunrise Beach, to the market.
It offered four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two-car garaging and pool on 640sq m.
The previous owner was an artist and had a studio downstairs which opened up the potential for dual living.
His art works had already been sold for charity at the Poinciana Ave gallery in Tewantin, through a silent auction.
Proceeds of the house sale were also to go to charity, with the Salvation Army as the main beneficiary.
The buyer, from Melbourne, builds homes for those suffering from domestic violence.
Meanwhile at Boreen Point, Roger Omdahl of Laguna Real Estate took an elevated 506sq m at 38 Woongar St to the market.
Regarded as among the best views in Boreen Point, the auction of the property attracted a crowd of more than 90.
With two-street access, the property has a north-easterly aspect looking over Lake Cootharaba to the Great Sandy National Park.
The original house, Eagles Nest, had been removed while a steel garage offered secure boat storage to Urunga Pde.
Auctioneer Justin Voss declared the property “sold’’ at $1.050m to Brisbane buyers.
