The founder of award-winning Newcastle building company MADE Homes has sold his family home for a multi-million-dollar price in a rapid off-market deal.
Located on a prominent corner block at 61 National Park Street in Merewether, the restored 1930s house sold for $4 million after the buyer made an immediate offer following their first inspection.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom brick and tile house features a bold, ultra-modern extension designed by the Newcastle firm Curious Practice.
Harcourts Newcastle listing agent Belinda Bartholomew-Walsh oversaw the sale on behalf of MADE Homes director Guy Bunder and his wife, Madeline.
The property sold in one day to a local downsizer who had long admired the home.
"It moved very, very quickly," Ms Bartholomew-Walsh said.
"I had spoken with Guy and asked if he was ready to move on if we had a buyer and I had the paperwork done, took someone through the next day and she made an offer on the spot.
"Everyone has been looking at this property and when I spoke to her and told her the address, she did not want to miss out.
"She obviously saw the value in it and we had everything signed and exchanged that same day. It was a whirlwind."
The two-year project more than doubled the value of the property.
The couple originally purchased the home at auction in August 2024 for $1.867 million.
At the time, the three-bedroom house was in original condition, including period features such as ornate plaster ceilings, brick fireplaces, and leadlight doors and windows.
"The vaulted and ornate ceilings were a huge selling point for us," Mr Bunder told The Local Project.
"Although the home was extremely dilapidated, we could see the potential impact of these unique features on the finished product.
"To me, respecting heritage preservation means not trying to imitate historical features.
"Our approach was, rather, to complement the home's features and the surrounding area with new creative architectural elements."
The project involved restoring the heritage home's original character while adding a striking architectural extension at the rear, which wraps around the main outdoor living area and pool.
Inside, the interiors combine spotted gum and hardwood panelling with warm, earthy tones.
Ms Bartholomew-Walsh described the collaboration between MADE Homes and Curious Practice as a "dream combo".
"Guy is one of the best builders in Newcastle and this was their personal project, so a lot of time and care was put into restoring the original part of the home," she said.
"It was a lot of hard work but it paid off because it had the most charming feel with all of the original windows, ceilings and cornices.
"It's the best of both worlds.
"It is a beautiful home and the functionality of it being across a single level was one of the biggest points of difference compared to a lot of other builds at the moment."
The property is the latest to fetch a significant multi-million-dollar price tag off market in Merewether.
Earlier this month, Salt Property's Lyndall Allan oversaw the discreet sale of a six-bedroom house at 48 Hickson Street.
The luxury property exchanged for $8.15 million, marking the highest price achieved for a residential property in Newcastle this year.
According to Cotality, the median house value in Merewether sits at $2.09 million.
