Brisbane post-war apartment block set for landmark auction

Located at 14 Blackheath Road, Oxley, on an elevated 607sqm block, the character-rich property built in 1953 is believed to be the only intact block of flats of its kind existing in the suburb.

Marketed by Ray White Wilston sales agent Holly Bowden, the unique double-brick complex features three distinct apartments - a sprawling three-bedroom home upstairs and two freshly renovated one-bedroom units below.

The property, which is set to go under the hammer on 23 July - offers $1,500-per-week rental yield with zero strata fees, or the ultimate setup for multi-generational living.

Ms Bowden said preserving its post-war charm, the estate features original terrazzo and timber flooring, decorative plaster ceilings, and classic casement windows, while completely modernising its infrastructure with new plumbing, PVC sewage lines, and fresh kitchens and bathrooms on the lower level.

The property also comes with pre-installed electrical lines for an additional garage and plans for an extended deck and granny flat (STCA), she said.

Owner Casey has spent a decade lovingly restoring the “lovely old girl”, which still holds quirks of its storied past, including 1960s newspapers discovered under old commercial carpet during renovations.

“According to local rumours, the home was originally constructed by an Ipswich stonemason and served as the perfect halfway mark between Brisbane and Ipswich, offering clear views of the incoming trains,” Casey said.

“Over its 70-year lifespan, the building has led many lives, including a lengthy stint by a government department providing housing for people in need before eventually passing back into private hands.”

Casey said it had been a true family project.

“My father has been doing all the work, and we’ve put a massive amount of love into it over the last 10 years,” he said.

“I’ve actually lived in every single unit in this building. It’s a classic renovator’s journey where you do up a section, and the owner moves into the worst unit left over to start the next project.

“It took me eight years to finally make it to the top floor, and these last few years living upstairs have been pure luxury.

“It is so hard for people to break into the real estate market right now, and I really think an investor or a multi-generational family will see the value in combining forces here.”