Mother and son transform dilapidated Richmond house for $1.38m sale

An Edwardian-era home in Richmond has sold for $1.38 million following an extensive 18-month renovation led by an interior designer and her son. The project at 165 Cubitt Street addressed a century of decline, transforming a dilapidated residence into a high-end property that attracted multiple bidders at auction. This sale highlights the continued market demand for professionally renovated period homes in prime inner-city Melbourne locations.

Interior designer Gail Lee and her son Alex, a horticulturalist, spent 18 months overhauling the single-fronted Edwardian home at 165 Cubitt St, which they have owned for approximately 15 years. The renovation was a significant undertaking that involved relining walls with insulation, installing new electrical and plumbing systems, and relocating a bathroom from a dilapidated rear lean-to. Ms. Lee acted as the project manager, focusing on preserving the property’s historic character, including its original pressed metal ceilings, fireplaces, and colored glass windows.

The modernization of the two-bedroom residence included the addition of a wall of custom-made, steel-framed windows and bi-fold doors that open to a rear garden designed by Alex Lee. The interior features a kitchen equipped with bespoke cabinetry, slimline stone benchtops, and an island bench, while the main bathroom was upgraded with a timber vanity and bathtub. The quality of the finish was such that visitors compared the completed home to a feature in Architectural Digest, reflecting the high standard of the design and the structural integrity Gail Lee identified when first purchasing the site.

The property went to auction with a price guide of $1.25 million to $1.35 million, drawing a crowd of about 50 people and three active bidders. BigginScott Richmond director Edward Hobbs reported that the home ultimately sold for $1.38 million to a buyer who had recently missed out on a property in Fitzroy. Mr. Hobbs noted that the successful sale underscores the value of flexibility in the current real estate climate, advising vendors to avoid fixed reserve prices at auctions to better navigate shifting market dynamics.