A Bald Hills family is prepared to accept less for a century-old home rather than sell it to a buyer who plans to demolish it. The timber house at 72 Bald Hills Road was built in 1917 and has remained in the same family for 109 years.
Now owned by two sisters, the property has attracted repeated interest from developers, but the family wants the house retained either on the existing block or relocated elsewhere. Selling agent Bayli Robertson, of Ray White RP Group, said the owners had turned away buyers whose plans involved clearing the site.
One of the owners, Wendy, 74, grew up in the house and has said the family could not bear to see it disappear after so many generations. Her grandfather, William “Billy” Allan, built the home, while her father, Alex, later renovated the interior during the 1970s.
A House Woven Into Old Bald Hills
The property’s history stretches beyond the family itself. During the 1950s, a tennis court on an adjoining rear block became a regular gathering place, with people from the neighbourhood booking games throughout the day and into the evening.
The surrounding streets have changed considerably since then. Wendy has recalled a time when traditional homes were common around the property, while many have since been demolished and their blocks redeveloped with newer housing.
The house has largely kept its earlier character. Its hardwood construction, wide weatherboards and mechanical pipe-bell doorbell remain, while the floorplan includes two bedrooms, a traditional sleepout used as a third bedroom, separate living and dining rooms, a sunroom and an enclosed front verandah.
The 1012-square-metre property also includes established gardens and mature trees, some more than 70 years old. Beneath the house are spaces for three vehicles, a laundry, storage and the original workshop area used by generations of the family.
Buyers Interested In Saving Rather Than Clearing
Not everyone who has inspected the property has wanted to redevelop it. Robertson said one person connected with a historical society had considered buying the home, while another couple explored the possibility of relocating it to their farm.
Moving the house, however, was estimated to cost as much as $350,000 before the purchase price itself was taken into account. The expense meant that option did not proceed, leaving the owners still searching for someone able to preserve the building.
The home remains on the market through Ray White RP Group and is being offered for sale by negotiation. No price guide is published, while the listing identifies three bedrooms, one bathroom and space for three vehicles.
Bald Hills railway station is about a four-minute walk from the property, placing the home close to one of the suburb’s longstanding transport links. The next scheduled inspection is on Saturday, 26 September, from 11:30am to noon, as the family continues to look for a buyer willing to keep the house standing.
Published 22-September-2026
