26 Nicholson St, Footscray, was built in 1903 and had a ballroom added in the 1950s.

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A grand house with a former ballroom, and previous owners that have spoken of ghostly presence, is set to smash Footscray records with its $2.8m-$2.9m asking range.

Hockingstuart Yarraville director Leo Dardha described the four-bedroom home at

26 Nicholson St as “a once in a generation sale for this suburb”.

Footscray’s current $2.2m house price benchmark is held by another four-bedroom abode at 63 Ballarat Rd, that sold in 2022.

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Named Heaton, the Nicholson St residence was built in 1903 by the Footscray and Malmsbury Stone-Cutting Works then-owner Enoch Greenwood.

Dardha says Greenwood named his house Heaton in honour of the UK town he lived as a young boy, before his parents migrated to Australia in 1858.

Along with his wife Rose and their children, Greenwood lived at the house before his death in 1909.

In the 1950s, new owners added a ballroom and a commercial grade-kitchen to Heaton.

The house served as a wedding and function centre for decades before a two-storey extension was added in 1995.

The house is named Heaton after the original owner Enoch Greenwood’s childhood hometown in the UK.

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Take a turn about the ballroom, which is now used as a living room.

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The established garden is one of the current owner’s favourite features.

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Previous owners have reported that they believed Greenwood’s ghost haunts Heaton, mentioning that his constant knocking in the middle of the night disturbing them.

According to historic documents, ex-owners also came to know the spirit’s “general appearance and favourite places” in the home.

Dardha says the current owners, a family, have lived at Heaton for about 20 years, enjoying its bluestone foundations, period features and proximity to Footscray’s shops and eateries, Flemington, Yarraville and Melbourne’s CBD.

“Today, the living area is what was the ballroom,” Dardha says

“The owner’s favourite feature is the large garden, from the orientation to the westerly sun coming in through the leaves.”

Set on 1374 sq m, the garden is full of mature trees, something of a rarity in Melbourne’s inner-western suburbs.

“It’s not double the average land size in the area, it’s triple,” Darda says.

A kitchen to prepare a family meal …

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… or you could cook up a storm in the commercial kitchen.

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Stained glass around the front door showcases the house’s name.

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He says the “rare and one-of-a-kind” house was one of Footscray’s original grand homes.

“The way it’s built, it’s like stepping back in time,” he adds.

“It’s just beautiful, it’s historic and it’s large.”

Other features include a cool room, three bathrooms and rear right of way access.

Heaton will be auctioned at 12.30pm on October 27.

The house is close to Footscray Market, Footscray train station, tram routes and a Victoria University campus.

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A pink sink, plus black and while tiles in a bathroom, adds a touch of vintage-style glam.

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The leafy garden provides a peaceful view from indoors.

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