Iconic Federation and Italianate property “Glenfruin” has sold for $3.25 million, setting a new residential price record for Launceston.
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The 1880s property at 1 Brisbane Street was listed for sale in September, and the sale made unconditional earlier this week.
An East Launceston property at 13 Claremont Street set the previous residential record, selling for $3.05 million in 2011.
This same property sold again in 2016 for $2.65 million.
Listing agent Rodney Rawlings from KnightFrank Launceston said Glenfruin’s new owner is a woman who had moved from Sydney to Tasmania and had been looking for the right home.
“She fell in love with the property, as did most people. She thought it was fantastic,” Mr Rawlings said.
“She loved its commanding position, loved its history and was in awe of the standard of its renovation, which we called a blend of old and new.
“And she loved its position walking distance to the city. It suited what she wanted right now,” he said.
Glenfruin’s sale attracted strong interest from buyers within Tasmania, interstate and internationally.
“We were really pleased with the amount of interest. A number of people came from interstate to look [at Glenfruin],” Mr Rawlings said.
“We were able to find [the buyer] through our local and national network.”
Setting a record residential price for Launceston was an added bonus for the agency.
“We were thrilled to be involved and be able to negotiate a record price,” he said.
Launceston’s top residential sellers
- $3.25 million: Glenfruin, 1 Brisbane Street, Launceston, in 2018
- $3.05 million: 13 Claremont Street, East Launceston, in 2011
- $2.65 million: 13 Claremont Street, East Launceston, in 2017
- $2.5 million: 150 Penquite Road, Newstead, in 2007
- $2 million: Hiawatha, 20 York Street, in 2016
Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Tony Collidge said four Launceston properties had sold for more than $2 million since 2000, but Glenfruin’s sale was a significant jump.
“It is a real reflection of the strength of the current market,” Mr Collidge said.
“Tasmanians are realising the value of the Tasmanian real estate market and can see there is a future here in the state,” he said.
“Whilst we have good economic conditions and positive employment opportunities across the state we will find these sales continue.”
Launceston properties that have broken the $2 million mark since 2000 have common threads in that they were built in the 1800s or early 1900s on large blocks.
Similar properties in mainland Australian cities would attract a much higher price tag, Mr Collidge said.
“If you dropped any of these properties in another city, you’d be paying a lot more.”
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