A city cottage built on land once owned by Adelaide’s founder Colonel William Light – and held by a single family for the past 152 years – can be yours after it failed to sell at auction over the weekend.
The charming 1870s-built two-bedroom bluestone row cottage just off Halifax Street at 16 Wakeham St, Adelaide went to auction over the weekend and, despite strong interest, didn’t reach the price the vendors were looking for.
SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR FREE REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
Set over two titles and sitting on 566sqm, the 250sqm home sits alongside a rare vacant parcel, providing a world of opportunity to its next buyer looking to restore the heritage-listed home to its former glory and potentially build their dream home on the adjoining block.
Selling agent Linda Clemente of Ray White Norwood said the home attracted seven bidding registrations and two active bidders on the day.
The cottage at 16 Wakeham St, Adelaide, was built in the 1870s on land once owned by Colonel William Light.
The cottage at 16 Wakeham St, Adelaide, was built in the 1870s on land once owned by Colonel William Light.
Colonel William Light. Dude likes to point at stuff …
“It reached $2.15m but the family were seeking a little bit more than that, so now we’re going to open it up and possibly offer them individually or as a whole,” Ms Clemente says.
“Most of the interest throughout the campaign was from owner-occupiers looking to build a family home and restore the cottage – everyone wanted it for both.
“A lot of people wanted to build their dream home, with many looking to restore the cottage and use it as a bed and breakfast.
“The interest was from mainly locals, with most of them city dwellers.”
The front loungeroom.
Looking into the home.
The current occupant clearly has a thing for colour.
Ms Clemente said it was a good opportunity for someone out there and she was hopeful for a quick sale.
“I think the interests will probably ignite now with additional opens on the weekend and we’ll have to see what comes of it, but I think having the option of buying it whole or individually might attract others that couldn’t bid at auction or didn’t want to buy the whole thing,” she said.
“I’m still very confident we’ll find the right buyer – it’s a very specific buyer that loves the historical content of the offering.
“It’s definitely a unicorn.”
The home’s spacious rear yard.
Is this the site of your dream home?
According to the listing, the land was “originally purchased from Colonel William Light in 1837 and since the construction of the cottage, it has been held by the same family since 1872”.
“This is your chance to contribute a new chapter to its remarkable history,” the advertisement read.
The cottage has two bedrooms, a front lounge, a central living and dining room with a kitchen, bathroom and laundry at the rear opening to a veranda that looks over a backyard with a shed.