19 hours ago
Abandoned Geelong West house unsafe to enter ahead of auction
'Buyer beware' takes on fresh meaning at a decrepit Geelong West house deemed too unsafe to enter.
Only external inspections are permitted at the long-abandoned character home where vines are growing through the lounge room and daylight is visible through many walls.
Neighbours haven't seen anyone living at 127 Weller St, Geelong West, for years, according to listing agent Jason Barnett.
Bargain hunters snap up ex public housing properties
He is auctioning the 286sq m property on July 19 on behalf of the State Trustees.
Mr Barnett said the house was likely too far gone to save, but its prized location between Pakington St and Sparrow Park, was attracting interest.
'The neighbours have said it was a family that lived there for a long time but they haven't seen anyone for years,' he said.
'There's no water pipes leading under the house or anything.
'I had a look around inside and the boards buckled underneath me and I thought 'this is not good' so I suspect it is just a glorified block of land in a good spot.'
The $390,000 to $420,000 price guide – the likes of which have not been seen for a house in Weller St in more than a decade – reflects the dire state of the building, which is described as 'a shell of potential'.
Its front door is boarded up, with pieces of corrugated tin covering only some of the missing weatherboards on the facade.
Original lath is exposed both externally and internally, while the back garden is overgrown.
'This one is so far gone,' Mr Barnett said.
'I have had a few people say that they like saving them but they would be working with nothing here.'
The house is located in a Geelong West heritage precinct, which will guide any future plans to renovate or rebuild at the property.
There's scope to unlock considerable value, with the median house price in Geelong West $820,000, according to PropTrack.
