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Vendors Mark and Tania Morgan are still looking for a buyer for their steampunk apartment. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
A St Kilda apartment that was transformed into a “steampunk” paradise featuring furniture inspired by the film Alien has passed in at auction.
The eye-catching two-bedroom apartment at 114/63 Acland St — the former site of the Port Phillip Water Police — earned a $850,000 vendor bid and then a $870,000 bid before the auction came to a halt.
It had $850,000-$900,000 price hopes in the lead up.
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The ‘Alien’ inspired dining table.
Wilson Agents Port Phillip selling agent Paul Manczak was still negotiating with the Bayside party that was the sole bidder late Saturday afternoon, but expected a deal to come through soon.
“We had quite a few interested parties prior to auction, a couple are interested in (buying) the furniture as well,” he said.
Auctioneer Adam Guest said the “unique” apartment was “something special”, having been completely renovated to a steampunk theme.
This meant a mix of elegant Victorian style and bold touches of industrial and machinery elements, inspired by a genre of science fiction.
A skull door knocker is the first hint to the unique styling inside.
The completely gutted the apartment and redid it.
Vendors Mark and Tania Morgan said they were prepared to throw in their unique furniture for a bit extra.
Mr Morgan scoured the internet for the out-there pieces, which include a glass-topped table with an Alien theme, futuristic silver armchairs, and light fittings crafted from industrial pipes and pieces of machinery.
“We got wallpaper imported from Belgium and other pieces from Ukraine, the US, Greece, Germany, France and Thailand,” he said.
“Ninety per cent of the furniture is imported. It’s cost me about $60,000.”
They had to reinforce the walls so they could handle the weight of the marble in the bathrooms.
The couple bought the property after moving from Queensland a couple of years ago. They had been planning on staying, but a change in circumstances is taking them back north.
“All the hard work has been done. Someone can buy it and just move in with their clothes,” Mr Morgan said.
Mr Manczak said there was potential to turn the apartment into an Airbnb.
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