Stop, drop and sold: Sparks fly as fire station conversion auction ignites $879k unit result

A Queensland couple snapped up an apartment situated within a fire station warehouse conversion in one of Melbourne’s coolest neighbourhoods for $879,000 following a hotly-contested auction.Two owner-occupiers competed for the two-bedroom apartment in the former Fitzroy North fire station on Saturday, driving the final price beyond its $820,000 auction reserve price. It was one of 1,214 properties scheduled for auction across Australia last week, recording a preliminary national clearance of 46%, according to PropTrack. The apartment at 6/301 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North sold for $879,000 at auction last week. Picture: realestate.com.auAuction clearance rates have declined since the Reserve Bank started hiking interest rates - in addition to tax changes in the federal budget - earlier this year, but some cities are faring slightly better than others. In Melbourne, there were 483 homes scheduled to go under the hammer, returning a 56.5% clearance rate. The property: The two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 6/301 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North sold at auction for $879,000 on Saturday 25 July. The home is one of just 10 within the former fire station, situated within walking dista...