$6.8 million paid for Double Bay block of apartments

The Double Bay apartment block Monterey sold at Monday auction for $6,8 million. There are seven apartments in the 1920s complex at 256 New South Head Road, up the hill from the village.

It was marketed by NG Farah agent Joe Recep as "a rare entire apartment block offering."

Buyers were advised there was scope to "add further value" with the potential to sell the apartments separately.

The building was already a strata block with the units sold off separately in the early 1990s. The apartments were mostly three bedroom, two bathroom with high ceilings and bay windows.

The most recently available apartment was at a $550 a week asking rental, down on its peak $750 a week rate sought in 2015. It was up for rent at $350 a week. in 2005.

The period building came with a wide timber staircase.

The bidding at Cooley Auctions opened at $6 million. There were just the two bidders competing.

The vendor had accumulated all seven apartments between 2001 and 2008 at a $2.5 million cost.

Monterey is diagonally opposite the 2018-completed Golden Age complex, Essence which is a striking strata complex at 315-321 New South Head Road.

Golden Age secured off the plan sales in 2016. A recent resale was $2.75 million last March for an apartment sold off the plan in 2016 at $2.66 million.

Essence has 38 residences in two buildings.