A stroll leads to the marina.

The house looks across the foreshore.

“The auction started at $850,000 and was rocketing up to $1.4 million,” he said.

“It just did not stop and sold well above the vendor’s reserve.”

The position near the water and development options were major factors in the strong result, Mr Whitehead said.

He added there were several more buyers waiting at the sidelines at the auction and there was interest from locals, outsiders and also Chinese buyers.

Hastings is not known for its auction sales, but the agency decided to go to auction because there were few comparable sales and it “wanted to let the market decide”.

The home is one of two houses on the street not yet developed for townhouses or units.

The three-bedroom house has a neat kitchen.

“We knew we would get a better result at auction because of the property,” he said.

The previous highest residential sale, although for a larger acreage block, was $1.35 million for 221 Coolart Rd in 2017. Another acreage at 169 Coolart Rd fetched $1,312,500 in 2016.

The Skinner St home is one of just two blocks on the street yet to be developed into townhouses or units.

The purchasers are local and yet to decide whether to move in or develop the site.

“They had been eyeing the property for some time and were very happy with the purchase,” Mr Whitehead said.

“The owners of more than 20 years are moving away for a change of scenery.”

The large block can fit multiple townhouses.

The house has open-plan living and dining spaces, an updated kitchen, mod cons and a four-car garage with workshop. The rear of the property could also be subdivided.

The suburb’s median house price was $485,000 in the year to June, CoreLogic data shows. It declined 5.3 per cent over the period but rose 29.3 per cent over three years.

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