The sale of an apartment in Coogee has raised almost $2 million for charity in fulfillment of the selfless will of an Australian fighter.
The unit at 4 Major St, Coogee sold for $1.93 million, reaching a price of $330,000 above reserve.
The house was owned by Charles Robinson, a man of Catholic faith who had been trained by The Congregation of Christian Brothers – now known as the Edmund Rice Foundation.
Proceeds from the auction were left to the Edmund Rice Foundation, as well as The Little Sisters of the Poor and The Little Kings Movement For The Handicapped.
4 Major St, Coogee. Photo: Sam Ruttyn
Andrew Moore, Mr Robinson’s great-nephew and the executor of the sale, said “everything he ever owned is going to charity”, including both the house and a stock portfolio of about $1.5 million.
Mr Moore said the whole family supported the decision by Mr Robinson – who never married or had children – to leave his entire estate to charity.
Mr. Moore said his great-uncle was an avid churchgoer who “really valued education” and wanted to give back to the institutions that were meaningful to him.
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Ten bidders had registered for the auction. Photo: Sam Ruttyn
Mr Robinson spent much of his life as company secretary of iconic Australian tea brand Bushells, until his retirement.
Mr Moore said his uncle ‘really loved that company’ and always enjoyed a cup of tea.
“He even had a license plate with TEA on it,” Moore said.
Mr Robinson’s former home was sold to an investor, according to agent Angus Gorrie of Ray White Eastern Beaches.
The new owner plans to renovate the house – still in its original state from the 1960s
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The house was still in its original state from the 1960s. Photo: Sam Ruttyn
The property’s location, directly opposite Dunningham Park and a stone’s throw from Gordons Bay and Coogee Beach, was a major drawcard for buyers’ lifestyles.
Mr Gorrie said more than 80 groups of buyers had inspected the property in the past three weeks.
“It has been very well received, especially considering the state of the unit,” he said.
“It just shows that people are willing to do the work and include that in the price.”
Ten bidders were registered for the auction, five of which were active.
Mr Gorrie said February’s rate hike “didn’t really dampen buyers’ appetites”.
Ray White auctioneer James Hayashi said that while there was “some nervousness around the rise in rates”, people were now “finding their feet in the market”.
“There are a lot of stocks in the market now,” he said.
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Auctioneer James Hiyashi said the sale of the house was a “great result”. Photo: Sam Ruttyn
At the Major St auction, Mr Hayashi said the unit was in “arguably one of the best spots in the area”.
“I walked in and said, ‘This is great real estate,’” he said.
“I think it’s a great result.”
Despite the condition it was in, the apartment sold significantly above Coogee’s current average unit price of $1.51 million.
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219 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst
Across Sydney, 1,084 auctions were scheduled this week, an increase of 11 per cent year-on-year.
The most viewed property listing on realestate.com.au to be auctioned this week was 219 Bourke St, Darlinghurst, which sold for $2.73 million.
Five of the seven registered bidders vied for the renovated 1980s terrace, which has a private roof overlooking the city.
The house sold above reserve, which is an example of the strong growth in house prices in Darlinghurst over the past twelve months, with house prices increasing by 16.3 per cent.
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Further north, a battle unfolded between developers over a family cottage in Ryde, which was being eyed for its duplex potential.
The three-bedroom house at 22 Stuart St sold for $3.525 million and claimed $250,000 above reserve.
There were nine bidders registered for the auction, four of which were active.
All the interest in the property came from developers and builders.
Robert Bagala of McGrath Ryde said the sale was purely based on the value of the land as the area is “hot for duplex sites”.
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