The block auction showdown: new competition enters the market in Daylesford – realestate.com.au

With the highly anticipated Block auctions in Daylesford just days away, there is fierce competition for the teams and not just each other.

With all eyes on the five homes with price guides ranging from $3 million to $3.3 million, there’s another iconic Daylesford home that the Block homes are going up against, with the same price guide.

Coach House at 8 Leggatt Street, Daylesford shares the same price list as the five Block homes, and the same agent as Robby and Mat’s House 5, McQueen Real Estate director Kim McQueen.

The historic lakefront property ‘Coach House’ has hit the market with the same price guide as The Block homes. Image: realestate.com.au

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The historic landmark from circa 1854 sits on a 956m² lakefront plot and features five bedrooms and two bathrooms.

“The owner runs it as a holiday property, and it is doing very well given its prime lakeside location and the fact it has five bedrooms,” Ms McQueen said.

“It makes a fantastic weekend getaway for groups of people, but it would also make a lovely permanent home or holiday home for a Melbourne family.”

View of Lake Daylesford. Image: realestate.com.au

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Described as one of the area’s most ‘coveted properties’, Coach House was built for Neil Leggatt and his wife Jessie to meet the needs of people traveling between Melbourne and the Goldfields.

The couple moved to the area from Scotland in the early 1850s and set up a shop and gold buying business before opening ‘The Coach House Hotel’.

After Mr. Leggatt’s death in 1871, Mrs. Leggatt converted the hotel into her private residence.

Full of historic charm. Image: realestate.com.au

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Ms McQueen said Coach House was an absolutely iconic residence in Daylesford, and probably one of the oldest houses in the area.

“It’s such a beautiful, striking-looking Victorian house too,” she said.

“It’s just absolutely charming. Anyone who comes to Daylesford and walks around the lake knows the Daylesford Coach House.”

Until recently, price guides of $3 million to $3.3 million for both Coach House and all Block homes were intended to break Daylesford price records if they sold for more than $3 million.

But Ms McQueen told realestate.com.au she had only just broken that record through an off-market sale for almost $4 million a few weeks ago.

The original Middleton Farmhouse has approvals for a block style renovation. Image: realestate.com.au

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For a more modest asking price of $799,000, Middleton Farmhouse, located next to the houses of The Block, with renovation plans already in place by Block architect Julian Benchley, is looking for a new keeper.

The original 19th century house at 11 Chaplain Street, Daylesford, sits on a large plot of 1,252 sq m and is a local landmark due to its links with the early farming days of the area.

The house is a stone’s throw from the five Block homes. Image: realestate.com.au

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Selling agent Ashlee McKee of Belle Property Daylesford said the farmhouse had only recently come onto the market and was something very different to her Block listing, House 2 by Han and Can.

“You go from the old world to the brand new world, but you know the character of this house has attracted so much attention,” she said.

“The location is nothing short of spectacular: it is located on an apartment building and offers a 360-degree view.

“So you’ve got views all the way to the Wombat Botanic Gardens, you’ve got views to the east that go over the Block houses.”

The striking farmhouse features a Victorian verandah with frets and wooden details. Mr Benchley’s plans include a contemporary design with three bedrooms, open-plan living, a two-car garage and gardens.

Packed with original country charm. Image: realestate.com.au

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Located at the entrance to Daylesford via Trentham and Castlemaine, Mrs McKee said the house was very well known.

“The great thing is that since we put it on the market, a lot of locals have come and they say, ‘That lemon tree in the back, it produces the best lemons,’ and everyone has come back with their stories,” she said.

“It will suit that buyer who really enjoys bringing heritage homes back to life, someone who sees their potential and what they can do with them, and who is also part of the Middleton Field community.”

Listed for $799,000. Image: realestate.com.au

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With two Grade II listed houses in Daylesford in her books, Ms McKee summed up the best way to describe the property market in the area.

“The great thing about Daylesford is that there are ‘no apples and apples’ when it comes to houses,” she said

“You can have The Block homes, which are modern, beautiful, sustainable homes… and then you can have these original character cottage homes and that’s really the beauty of Daylesford, you can come and live in our region and live in any style.”

Agents’ thoughts on The Block auctions

With The Block’s auction day fast approaching, Ms McQueen said she knew until the last minute that anything could happen, but was confident House 5 will sell.

“I feel a great sense of responsibility to our participants, Robby and Mat, to make the day as successful as possible for them,” she said.

Kim McQueen of McQueen Real Estate Daylesford is the agent for Robby and Mat’s House 5. Photo: Channel 9/9Now

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“And of course, you know, they put so much into it. We put a lot into it and want it to be a success for everyone.

“Anything can change between now and it changes daily. Buyers come and go every hour.

“Anyone can guess what will happen that day.”

Ashlee McKee of Belle Property Daylesford is the agent for Han and Can’s House 2. Photo: Channel 9/9Now

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Ms McKee said she felt a mixture of excitement and nerves.

“The Block is its own beast, so there’s a lot going on,” she said.

“Our house has had people say ‘we’re more interested in this house and this house’, but then they come through our house – house number 2 – and they’re completely blown away.”

She said many of the comments were that the house looked better in person than on television.