In the heart of Brisbane's affluent Paddington suburb, a property shrouded in mystery and local folklore has finally changed hands after decades of eerie stillness. The house at 31 Perrott Street, long whispered about by residents as the 'old haunted house', sold at auction in July 2025 for a staggering $3.1 million, far exceeding the suburb's median price.
A Legacy of Whispers and Sudden Departure
For over 30 years, the classic Queenslander with its Federation-era architecture stood silent and uninhabited. Urban legend tells of the last family who resided there, who are said to have fled so abruptly one night that they left a dinner table set and food in the cupboards, never to return. The property, believed to have been built around 1912 and once used as a hospital during the war, became a fixture of local intrigue, with its weed-strewn roof and dark, empty windows fuelling speculation.
Listing agents George and Max Hadgelias of Ray White confirmed the home had been in the same family for a century but had sat empty since the 1990s, with no clear explanation for its long abandonment. The real estate listing itself described it as 'one of Paddington's most spoken about homes'.
A Time Capsule Full of Ghosts and Treasures
When the house was listed for sale in mid-2025, it offered a rare glimpse into a frozen past. Architectural historian Marianne Taylor, who inspected the property for her YouTube channel The House Detective, described it as akin to entering a time capsule. 'I haven't been in a house from this era that has been so little altered... The house is still full of old furniture, paintings and belongings,' she explained in a detailed walk-through.
Despite a two-week clean-up, the home remained packed with relics: antique furniture, vintage pantry items, old newspapers, discarded toys, and even an old laundry copper pot. Marianne also noted a 'super creepy' basement under a dark stairwell, which may have served as an air raid shelter, adding to the spine-tingling atmosphere.
Strong Buyer Interest Secures a New Future
The bizarre history and the significant renovation required did not deter the market. The auction drew a crowd of 150 people, with 15 registered bidders competing. After around a dozen spirited bids, the hammer fell at $3.1 million, a price that reflected the unique character and prime location of the 473-square-metre property.
Agent Max Hadgelias stated the vendors were happy to see the home, which had been in their family for so long, pass to new owners who would 'make their mark on it'. He confirmed the successful buyers, a family, plan to restore the dwelling and eventually occupy it themselves.
Online commentary, particularly on Marianne Taylor's video, expressed a collective hope that the 'grand old lady' would be sympathetically restored rather than demolished. One commenter mused, 'Why did owners up and go so quickly leaving table still set, what happened here. Hopefully new owners will restore and tell the story they uncover.' While the home's mysterious past may never be fully explained, its future now promises restoration and new life, closing one chapter and eagerly beginning another.
