October 17, 2026 — 1:42pm
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A family from South Strathfield bought a four-bedroom home on an almost 563 square-metre block in the heritage suburb of Haberfield on Saturday, paying $3.1 million at auction, $200,000 over the reserve.
Four parties registered to bid for 62 O’Connor Street, with three active, as more than 30 people gathered on the street to witness proceedings.
The property was one of 845 scheduled to go to auction in Sydney this week. By evening, Domain recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 52 per cent from 501 reported results throughout the week, while 154 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.
Auctioneer Charlie Powell had barely finished his opening address when the first paddle was raised offering $2.8 million. A second bid of $2.82 million was rejected before the same bidder increased their offer to $2.85 million. Bids continued in increments of $50,000 between the two until it reached $3 million when the second bidder said he was “out”.
A third bidder then entered the fray and a flurry of $10,000 bids – referred to by Powell as a “Pavarotti, a tenner” – ensued. When bidding reached $3.1 million, the first bidder dropped out and the hammer fell.
The property had a guide of $2.9 million, the same as the reserve.
Auctioneer Charlie Powell from Apollo Auctions called for Pavarotti bids at one point, aka a tenor (or is that a tenner?). Fortunately, no one broke into song.James Brickwood.
The new owners said they had been looking for a family home for “quite a while” and saw opportunity in current conditions.
“The market has changed a bit, and it has opened up some areas [to buy],” one of them said.
Sales agent for Laing + Simmons Five Dock/Drummoyne, Joseph Rupolo said the underbidders were families from Leichhardt and Annandale, both seeking more space.
The heritage home retained many of its original features, including timberwork and fireplaces.James Brickwood
“Competitive buyers are still shopping for the right reasons, like a bigger backyard,” he said.
Powell said the result reflected good communication between vendor and agent. But not all agents were as confident in the auction process, he said.
“I was meant to have five auctions today, but two sold prior, one was withdrawn and another was postponed with a price adjustment,” he said.
The vendors are siblings who inherited the property from their parents.
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The Federation-era home has four bedrooms, a large formal lounge and dining area, and four original fireplaces. A later addition includes an eat-in kitchen and second living area leading onto a concrete backyard and garage.
In Croydon Park, a woman from Greenacre is the new owner of a two-bedroom semi, paying $150,000 less than the reserve with a single bid.
The woman was the only registered bidder for 16 Brighton Avenue and initially made an offer before the auction began of $1.25 million for the well-presented home, which was guided at $1.35 million.
However, Rich & Oliva sales agent Marco Errichiello convinced her to raise the offer with a formal bid of $1.3 million and the property sold.
“She said that was the maximum she could afford to spend with the current [interest] rate rises,” Errichiello said. “[The vendor] thought it was better to have a sale in these conditions rather than wait.”
The two-bedroom semi has retained many of its original features.Domain
The vendor has held it as an investment. Records show it last sold in 2009 for $520,000.
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The property had a reserve of $1.45 million. There is no legal requirement for a vendor’s reserve to be in line with their property’s price guide.
Errichiello said it was evident there was “enthusiasm” from buyers hoping for a good price in current market conditions.
“If we had guided [this property] a bit lower, we would have had more people,” he said. “It [may be at a point where it’s] an uncomfortable price for vendors, but there are buyers to be had.”
In Woolooware, a family from Dulwich Hill seeking to upsize from an apartment bid against themselves to secure the keys to a three-bedroom townhouse – a week after selling their own home.
The property at 16/73 Denman Avenue had a guide of $1.4 million, which was also the opening bid. The bidders, the single registered party, then bid against themselves, initially going up to $1.42 million.
That was followed by two further bids of $5000 before the home sold under the hammer for $1.43 million. It had a reserve of $1.52 million.
Sales agent for Pulse Property, Liam Farrell, said the family would not have been able to turn the sale around so quickly if it were not for the auction process.
The two-storey townhouse has a covered outdoor area running off the open-plan living area.Domain
“They only sold [their property] last Saturday and came through [their new home] on Monday,” he said.
“This time last year, we would have had five or six buyers, but today there was only one. If this was private treaty, this buyer would not have turned it around so quickly.”
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Robyn Willis is a property reporter and the former lifestyle editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.From our partners