32 Walter St, East Geelong sold under the hammer less than an hour before Saturday’s lockdown began.

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A Geelong couple just beat the latest lockdown to score a sought-after character home in East Geelong’s Golden Triangle at auction on Saturday.

With only an hour before stay at home orders were reimposed in the region, two bidders seized their chance to contest the four-bedroom house with a picture book facade at 32 Walter St.

Neighbours watched on in delight as it sold under the hammer for $1.25 million, again reaffirming buyers’ love affair with the popular pocket close to Eastern Gardens.

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Eastwood Andrews, Geelong agent Andrew Crowhurst wasted no time getting down to business. Picture: Mike Dugdale

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The space and substantial shedding on offer at the 660sq m property drew the local buyers and another party who bid via phone.

Eastwood Andrews, Geelong agent Andrew Crowhurst said the home’s street appeal and welcoming neighbourhood added to its value.

It was advertised with price hopes of $1.1 million to $1.2 million.

The crowd congratulates the buyers. Picture: Mike Dugdale

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The main open-plan living zone.

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“The family that we were selling the property for had brought up their family there and they loved it there and were hoping a young family or couple would buy it and that’s what happened,” Mr Crowhurst said.

“They had a big neighbourhood fist pump, a socially distanced celebrations, afterwards.

“We would have loved to have cracked the champagne but we couldn’t do that.”

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The two-storey home has a versatile floorplan with two living areas, an updated kitchen/dining room and an upstairs main bedroom suite where a balcony captures treetop views.

Parents get to escape upstairs to this.

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Studio, extra entertaining area or home office – take your pick.

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The north-facing backyard has a lot offer.

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But what really set the property apart was the lined rear studio with a wood heater and bar, adjoining workshop and garaging for four cars.

Mr Crowhurst said if recent experience was anything to go by, the market was likely to rebound strongly once lockdown ended, with Melbourne buyers fuelling competition.

“It’s like a slingshot,” he said.

More than a dozen live auctions planned for Saturday afternoon were thrown into disarray with the lockdown announcement.