When Elaine Sanderson moved into her Yarraville home, it was surrounded by paddocks with sheep and cows and a factory across the road.
But the four-bedroom Edwardian house at 56 Severn Street, held by the Sanderson family for about a century, now sits amongst a very different suburb, bustling with trendy cafes and restaurants.
The property was among 1,143 auctions scheduled on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group had collected 876 results to put the clearance rate at 76.6 per cent. "Melbourne's autumn auction market ended with another solid result for sellers despite another near-record May day for listings," the group's chief economist Andrew Wilson said.
Eight would-be buyers battled for the 400-square metre Yarraville property ??? now derelict, but brimming with memories for Ms Sanderson. It sold for $1.19 million, $340,000 above reserve.
"I didn't think it would get to $1 million to be honest," Ms Sanderson said. "I'm happy about it, but it's got a lot of memories and is a bit emotional for me."
Ms Sanderson said her late husband was raised in the house from birth about 80 years ago.
"When I first came here 55 years ago, there was a quarry over the road and there were not many houses around," she said.
"I've brought up five children in this house, it hasn't been easy, but there's a lot of good memories and a lot of bad ones."
After selling the house, she said her plan was to move to a unit in Werribee near her "very good friends".
Although the house had no heritage overlay, and also attracted bidders who wanted to build a new home, the eventual buyer was an investor who grew up next door.
The buyer, who no longer lives on the street, planned to renovate the house before renting it out.
Jas Stephens auctioneer Terry Fitzpatrick, who handled the sale with Nathan Gleeson, attributed the result to the location: walking distance to Yarraville village and Cruickshank Park. Yarraville Station and Yarraville West Wembley primary schools were also nearby.
Meanwhile in Mont Albert North, a crowd of about 200 gathered to watch a four-bedroom house at 17 Rostrevor Parade sell for $3.99 million.
Kay and Burton auctioneer Gerald Delany broke the ice with a vendor bid of $3.85 million and went inside to consult the vendors when no one raised their hand.
When he returned, a young couple made a bid of $3,875,000 and it was declared on the market. Another family also jumped into the ring.
The circa 1920 property ??? on about 2322-square metres ??? was knocked down to buyers who appeared to be a young family after a drawn-out auction.
The family home, listed by Kay and Burton's Mark McKenzie, had potential to further improve, rebuild or subdivide. It is believed to be among the highest sales achieved in Mont Albert North.
