Tully Mulder in the wine cell-ar in his Black Rock house, which has sold about three weeks ahead of its scheduled auction date. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The contemporary home at 1/53 First St was due to go under the hammer this weekend, with price expectations in the low-$2 million range.

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But Hodges Mentone selling agent Chris Rae said a couple downsizing from their family home in Aspendale placed a pre-auction offer of $2.3 million for the four-bedroom home that its seller couldn’t refuse.

1/53 First St, Black Rock has fetched $2.3 million.Source:Supplied

Remarkably, the buyers were friends of the home’s builder and original occupant, renowned bayside builder Alan Drummond.

“They remembered the house — they used to go to dinner there,” Mr Rae said.

“They were originally from Black Rock.”

The home’s bay views were among the drawcards for its buyers.Source:Supplied

The buyers are about to list their beachfront Aspendale home at 7 Coleman Rd with Mr Rae, with an April 8 auction date and price expectations in the low-$3 million range.

The agent said they had been drawn to the four-bedroom Black Rock home’s bay views, the fact it had plenty of room for the grandkids to stay over, and its low maintenance layout, while the home’s quirky wine ‘cell-ar’ had been “a bonus”.

The cell holds 840 wine bottles. But Mr Mulder preferred to drink beer in there. Picture: Tim CarrafaSource:News Corp Australia

Mr Drummond installed the cell, which holds 840 bottles, to protect his valuable vinos.

Retiree Tully Mulder bought the house from the builder and, while he’s more of a beer drinker, still got a fair bit of use out of the feauture.

“I’ve been known to go down there with half a dozen tinnies on a hot day,” he said.

“It’s cool all the time.”

The house was built by Alan Drummond, who is renowned in bayside Melbourne.Source:Supplied

Mr Mulder, 68, had also found a new home — Mr Rae said he’d purchased another Drummond house in nearby Beaumaris.

“They’re all friends,” the agent said.

“So they didn’t really need me in the end — they could have had a dinner party and sorted the whole sale out.”

The buyers of the Black Rock home are just about to list this bayside beauty at 7 Coleman Rd, Aspendale. Photo: Chris RaeSource:Supplied

Mr Rae will be opening 7 Coleman Rd for a VIP inspection on March 11, and it’s due to hit the market just before then.

The four-bedroom property boasted uninterrupted, 180-degree water views, he said: “Its got floor-to-ceiling windows and an absolute beachfront position.”

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Originally published as Wine ‘cell-ar’ house sale locked in