Strathnairn Charity House goes to auction this Saturday, and we'd love to see you there

You’ve probably never seen an Old English Sheepdog, a jumping castle and a couple of radio celebrities at the auction of a home before, but this Saturday's auction of the Strathnairn Charity House will be anything but ordinary.

Two years after the first sod was turned on the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home at 41 Rachel Makinson Street, Strathnairn, the critical moment - the sale of the home - is finally here. And to celebrate, a big party will be hosted this Saturday 25 March 2023 in the hours before the home goes under the hammer.

From 10am, the site will be home to a jumping castle, face painting and the Zango coffee van, with celebrities like Dulux Dog and MIX106’s Renee Bogatko and Cam Sullings roaming through the crowd. Sausage sangas will be courtesy of the Ozharvest sausage sizzle.

The main event starts at 1pm, with Sandra Masters of LJ Hooker Kippax calling for bids for the stunning property.

Strathnairn Charity House is an initiative of Ginninderry and Master Builders ACT. Proceeds of the sale of the home will be distributed to charity partners Hands Across Canberra, Canberra City Care, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled and Karinya House.

For Kane Constructions General Manager Jo Farrell, who’s spent two years managing the build of the home, on a volunteer basis, Saturday’s event will feel like “handing over a baby”.

“I’m not going to lie: it’s incredibly nerve wracking,” Jo says.

“It’s been a two-year journey – we’ve had some delays, worked through the build and watched the market rise and drop during that period.

“It’s been such a personal journey for everyone involved - including me - and I just want to see that money hit our charities’ pockets.

“It’s out of my hands now, but I have so much confidence in our sales and marketing team to get us a great result.”

Jo says the duration of the build over 24 months gave the design and construction teams the chance to get "every detail right", from premium Australian wool carpets to solid timber doors between rooms and 13mm Gyprock walls (the standard is 10mm).

The result is a home “I would dearly love to live in myself”, Jo says, and she’s hoping the new buyers will love coming home every day to a property made with incredible thought and care.

Hundreds of Canberrans have streamed through Strathnairn Charity House since the home was declared open for inspection in early March. The Zango Dream Team of five female real estate agents have fielded hundreds of enquiries and will be on site to work with registered bidders on Saturday.

Auction event details: Strathnairn Charity House

Date: Saturday 25 March 2023

10am: Site opens, Cam and Renee’s Mix 106.3 Real Estate Show live broadcast

10am-1pm: Live music, Zango coffee van, the Gecko Gang, jumping castle, OzHelp sausage sizzle, Dulux Dog

1pm: Auction of 41 Rachel Makinson Street, Strathnairn

Open for inspection

Strathnairn Charity House is open for inspection on Thursday 23 March 2023, 5.30pm-6pm, and on Saturday 25 March 2023 prior to auction from 10am.