New Record Price Expected to be Set For Melbourne's Western Suburbs

A LANDMARK property on the suburb border of Newport and Williamstown is expected to smash the record price paid for a home in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
 
Hocking Stuart Williamstown’s Wayne Elly is expecting up to $8 million for the Sea Gates estate at 62 The Strand, which has rear access to Yarra Street.
 
The massive 3,500 square metre property includes two historic homes -  Sea Gates and the smaller Dachet - and enjoys postcard views over Hobsons Bay to the Melbourne CBD.

The property’s gardens were laid out by Edna Walling and have been open occasionally to the public for events.
 
Mr Elly, who is selling the home with Nathan Smith, said demand for the property has come from developers keen to exploit the land size and a potential view with apartments. He also said the property has attracted a number of prospective buyers from the eastern and southern suburbs.
 
The Sea Gates property is being sold by the last City of Williamstown Mayor James Farrell and wife Marian, whose family has owned the home since 1949. The couple are moving to provincial Victoria.
 
Heritage Victoria describe both homes as a small number of surviving pre-1860 dwellings in Williamstown, which demonstrate the early development of the city and how development occurred along The Strand from an early date.