54-56 Carlisle Street, Leichhardt

The background

One of the Inner West’s most iconic and unique properties has a new owner, with Ben Southwell selling 54-56 Carlisle Street, Leichhardt amid heated competition. The 378sqm landholding was originally held by the Salvation Army, which constructed the 1916 hall that still stands proudly as part of the residence, complete with original signage.

In 1997 new owners undertook extensive conservation works to the rundown property, including a modern rear extension and a beautiful garden sanctuary, creating a four-bedroom, two-bathroom family haven with double parking. Exuding immense creativity and individuality, it’s a home where every element has its own unique story and history.

Ben comments, “Being an entirely unique property, the sales process needed to be reflective of this individuality. The owners were very private people and the notion of having public inspections was not something that appealed to them. It was largely this bespoke approach to the sales campaign that secured us the listing, with the owners feeling that we were a great fit for both them personally and their home.

Strategies we employed in this campaign

We initially entered the market in 2020, with the owners only planning on selling if the price was right. This was an emotional sale and letting go was a large hurdle for them to conquer. The best result 2020 could provide was a price in the very early $3.8m zone and we all agreed to pause the campaign in late November and reassess in 2021. With the New Year bringing rapid market momentum and strong auction results, we decided to take it to auction at the end of March. The home attracted both last year’s audience along with a number of new faces. All up we had 10,234 online views, 545 enquiries and 39 inspections, which is pretty impressive for a property at this price point in Leichhardt.

The entire program was managed by private one-on-one inspections – even the night of the auction was a closed private event. Finding the right buyer involved a combination of engaging with clients known to us and guiding buyers from other areas who hadn’t considered Leichhardt before but would look there for a property of this calibre. It ultimately sold under the hammer with spirited bidding well in excess of the prices suggesting the previous year.

This sale definitely highlights the staggering turnaround we’ve seen in the market this year – something that few would have predicted given the events of 2020. There is still plenty of heat in the market and we’re expecting it to remain strong for the immediate future, so it’s a perfect time to capitalise on pent-up demand and a large pool of eager, cashed-up buyers.”