BOUGHT* - $1,600,000

A good sized crowd of 55 turned out in the drizzle this morning to see what would happen at the auction of this family home. As those without umbrellas huddled under trees, and one couple sat in the back of their open car boot, some of the bidders gathered under the front veranda of this home for shelter. This left auctioneer James Paynter with no choice but to stand with his back to most of the crowd - more attune to a conductor of an orchestra than an auctioneer. James opened with a vendor bid of $1,300,000, made a call to London (being the opening ceremony day of the London Olympics today) at the half time break to discuss proceedings with his vendor, made the sensible 'on the market' announcement at $1,470,000 and brought down the hammer at $1,600,000.

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