Rosebud bathing box fails to sell at Easter auction

The Easter break's special Victorian auction treat - a bathing box on the Rosebud foreshore - went wanting, when it failed to sell with just the one bidder at its onsite weekend auction.

"You could start with a bid of $1 million if you like, but I won't move it to Sorrento," the Mornington Peninsula auctioneer Stephen Wilson told the crowd.

There was a $200,000 opening bid.

"It's the best boatshed and position in Rosebud," Wilson said.

Then the auctioneer placed a $225,000 vendor bid.

"You can go fishing ..you can go swimming, but here you don't need to even get sand in your feet," he said.

Just the one higher offer took the top bid to $230,000 when boatshed 82A was put to auction on Saturday afternoon.

Post-auction the top bidder was told there was a $280,000 reserve price.

Some years ago it had a $345,000 asking price.

Located at the beach end of Rosebud Parade, not far from the busy cafes on Point Nepean Highway, boatshed 82a is the closest bathing box to the pier.

With the leasehold holding is a 8m x 4m boat shed constructed of brick and a colourbond roof that dates back at least 70 years.

The smaller Rosebud boat sheds for sale start from $85,000.

It was the quietest Easter since 2012 with just 378 homes taken to auction across the combined capitals, according to CoreLogic.

There were limited city auctions over Easter, but coastal agents across the country endeavoured to find buyers ahead of the upcoming winter hibernation.

A newly constructed four bedroom Blairgowrie home didn't find its weekend buyer either on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula.

"It is a family passion-project by the Ross family," Peninsula Sotheby's International Realty listing agent Hamish Opray said, noting there was a "sophisticated Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic throughout."

The three level floorplan incorporates distinct, self-contained living zones serviced by an Italian imported hydraulic lift.

There is a solar-heated glass tiled pool.

Sydney had the priciest weekend auction offering which was a vacant block at 20 Macintyre Crescent, Sylvania Waters, billed as having the potential to be a holiday home.

It was an 808 sqm building block with approved plans for a luxury residence with an extra wide 30m water frontage with deep water mooring facility to accommodate vessels up to 28mertes in length plus dry dock and jet ski facilities.

The house plans have been designed by Rabi Moussawel of RM Designers.

“The vision was to design a house which made the owner feel like he was on holidays every day of the year," Moussawel said in the marketing.

"From the moment you enter the house you experience the luxurious double height ceiling space like a hotel foyer.

"This luxury home is alive with ocean drama, swaying palm trees, quiet sunrises, and flamboyant sunsets.

"It is a rare architectural masterpiece, connecting outside with inside and enjoying spectacular, unobstructed views of the water.

"Fish in the morning, swim during the day and jet ski in the afternoon.... why travel when you are already on holidays.”

DJW Property agent John Basa said it was it was passed in at $3,965,000, below its reserve price of $4.1 million.

Its last sale was in 2009 when the 1965 home was bought for $2,315,000, having sold pre GFC at $2.9 million in 2004.

Realestate.com.au advised the NSW clearance rate, based on 97 auction results over the past week, sat at 59 percent.

South Australia also secured a 59 percent success rate over the past week from 29 results.

Queensland had a 33 perecent clearance rate from 39 results.

There were two offerings at 1770, the small town promoted as the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, near Gladstone where explorer Captain James Cook briefly landed in May 1770.

A detached architect-designed duplex at 4a/4b Orton Court failed to sell.

With ocean views over Bustard Bay, the duplex offering was the winner of 2014 Queensland Master Builders Association award after being constructed in 2014 by Gibson Homes.

"No expense was spared in construction using corrosion resistant materials to ensure low maintenance," its PRDnationwide marketing advised.

"The properties were passed in," PRD agent James White said. They have been $3000 a week peak season asking rentals.

Orton Court is named after Captain Cook's clerk Richard Orton whose earlobes were slashed during the drunken night when Cook's crew anchored in Bustard Bay. 

A 1770 entry level home set amid tropical gardens also did not sell at 628 Captain Cook Drive though PRD. 

The classic holiday home comprised two bedrooms, open plan kitchen and living room with a large sunroom and balcony area, to capture the views. 

It last sold at $210,000 in 1991.

Victoria's success rate was put at 58 percent with just 26 results.

Rosebud was among the busiest auction locations.

A three bedroom one bathroom house, listed through Paul Cunnington and Tullie Roberts of Barry Plant, was sold at an undisclosed price.

Situated at 79 First Avenue, the home had come with a price guide of $520,000 to $570,000.

Set on 385 sqm, the renovated home last sold in 2008 for $290,000.

Another Rosebud property, marketed as a "grand weatherboard ready for a makeover" was pulled from auction.

The four bedroom one bathroom house set on 760 sqm, had a price guide of $520,000 to $550,000 through Barry Plant.

Situated at 14 Hayes Avenue, the listing noted the property had the potential to be subdivided or become a two unit site.

The median price for a home in Rosebud is $605,000, according to CoreLogic, with the median days on market before a sale at 32 days.