Former Liberal leader John Hewson’s $7 million, six-bedroom estate Invergowrie in the NSW Southern Highlands attracted no bids at the weekend.

The Exeter house, which features studies, a library, ballroom and a billiard room, dates back to the 1930s when it was built for BHP industrialist Sir Cecil Hoskins.

Almost 100 people gathered at the 74 Bundanoon Road property and although two parties registered, the home passed in without a bid.

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Richardson & Wrench auctioneer Geoff Speers was confident of getting a genuine bid for the 10-hectare estate, which last sold for $5.5 million in 2004.

“This is an extraordinary estate,” the auctioneer said.

Outside, the property also includes a championship tennis court, Bocce pit, swimming pool, croquet lawn, orchard, vegetable gardens, Japanese garden with waterfall, animal enclosures and an aviary.

Dr Hewson has had an ongoing love of all things Tudor. His first home in the Highlands was Redlands, also Tudor-style and in Paul Sorenson gardens, which he bought for $106,000 in 1977 and sold for $380,000 in 1985, just before he became the federal Liberal Party leader.

Dr Hewson and his wife Jessica, who had Invergowrie listed through Michael Maloney at Richardson & Wrench Bowral, want to move closer to Bowral.

‘Invergowrie’ was built in 1936. Photo: Supplied

There are numerous fireplaces around the house. Photo: Supplied

The property is set on 9.7 hectares. Photo: Supplied

The house’s swimming pool. Photo: Supplied

Sydney recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 69 per cent at weekend auctions, compared to 67 per cent in the prior week.

The weekend’s top-performing Sydney sub-region was the eastern suburbs with a clearance rate of 87 per cent, followed by Sutherland on 84 per cent and North Sydney and Hornsby at 80 per cent.

Sales across Sydney ranged from $340,000 for a one-bedroom Surry Hills unit to a pre-auction $5.775 million sale of a five-bedroom Woollahra house.

Sydney’s clearance rate in April last year was well above 80 per cent.

CoreLogic RP Data figures have now put the Sydney clearance rate at below 70 per cent for the past five weeks after a strong February start.

Strathfield was Sydney’s busiest auction suburb with the preliminary results showing four of the five offerings finding buyers.

Private treaty terrace sales dominated the recent headlines with record prices set in Potts Point and Alexandria.

The freestanding Potts Point terrace, Saraville, with costly Conybeare Morrision makeover, fetched $13 million.

It was best known as having been the Challis Avenue restaurant, Le Trianon.

The Potts Point property at 29 Challis Avenue sold for $13 million. Photo: Supplied

Features include soaring ceilings, and a large secluded courtyard with Moroccan tiles. Photo: Supplied

A $2.25 Alexandria sale of a contemporary Frank Stanisic terrace was also advised as a record price. With 232 sqm living space, it last sold in 2005 at $1 million.

Meanwhile in Melbourne, some 880 residential homes were taken to weekend auction with a preliminary clearance rate of 71 per cent, falling from 73 per cent last week and lower than one year ago when it was 79 per cent.

The busiest auction activity was held in the inner region where 170 homes went to auction and 73 per cent of reported auctions were successful.

Sales included a 410 sqm Richmond warehouse style development site at $2 million.

The former 1910 stables were offloaded by a syndicate that included Essendon captain Brendon Goddard, creative designer Jayden Zernich and Jennifer Brookes.

The 19-21 Farmer Street premises dated back to the days of John Wren’s Richmond trotting racecourse which operated until the mid-1930s.

Goddard and his co-owners secured planning approval for two three-bedroom townhouses after they bought the investment property in April 2014 for $1.36 million.

19-21 Farmer Street in Richmond came from dairy origins. Photo: Supplied

However, Western Bulldogs chief operating officer Michael Quinn couldn’t sell his Fitzroy terrace, with the three-bedroom home passed in on a $2.2 million vendor bid.

Vader House at 258 Napier St was transformed by award-winning architect Andrew Maynard about five years ago having been bought in 2005 at $618,000.

It is now listed for $2.5 million.

It has a mezzanine-level study and temp-controlled underground cellar. Photo: Supplied

The double-storey terrace has a courtyard with a hidden spa/pool below a sliding deck. Photo: Supplied

Melbourne’s results ranged between a $260,000 Ormond one-bedroom flat and $4,375,000 for a 1960s Brighton home on an 830 sqm Middle Crescent block, that reportedly fetched $900,000 over reserve.

The cheapest house was $267,000 at Drysdale, on the outskirts of Geelong.

The REIV noted the Melbourne outer suburbs have seen a significant increase – about 25 per cent – in the number of properties sold at auction this year.

The preliminary clearance rate across Brisbane was 53 per cent, up from 47 per cent and also higher than the 46 per cent last year.

Some 145 Brisbane auctions were held, but with the two upcoming public holidays, it is expected that Brisbane’s auction market will be relatively quiet over the next two weeks.

Adelaide saw 99 auctions with a clearance rate of 66 per cent.

Preliminary results for Canberra show the clearance rate for this week sitting at 71 per cent, sharing the lead as best-selling mainland capital with Melbourne.

The nation’s cheapest weekend sale was $67,500 for a one-bedroom 40 sqm Eagleby villa on the Gold Coast. It last sold at $85,000 in 2010.

The Gold Coast villa sold for $67,500. Photo: Supplied

This week saw 1667 capital city auctions held.

Preliminary results show that 68 per cent of the national auctions were successful, marking the third consecutive week of auction clearance rates below the 70 per cent mark.

Jonathan Chancellor is editor-at-large at Property Observer