All mainland capital city auction clearance rates have eased to below 70 per cent under the weight of heightened spring listings coinciding with banking lending hesitancy.

Melbourne still ranks as the strongest market, but at a 69.6 per cent weekend success rate. The same time last year Melbourne’s vendors were securing a 79 per cent success rate under the hammer.

A Toorak home was among the many passed-in offerings around the country when bidding stopped at $12.2 million.

Owners had hoped for $14.5 million-plus for the 1930s bungalow on its 1700 square metre Russell Street parcel, which sold at $9.28 million in 2015.

The elegant, old-fashioned study features a wet bar. Photo: RT Edgar

A large family room space has a cosy gas fire. Photo: RT Edgar

Another Toorak house was passed in on a $6.5 million vendor bid.

Melbourne’s top result was a $4.125 million sale in Canterbury, a Stonehaven-designed and built split-level contemporary residence.

The price guidance on 23 Maling Road had been $3.9 million to $4.29 million.

Tasmania was the surprise performer. Tasmania’s busy weekend saw seven auction results reported, returning a preliminary clearance rate of 85.7 per cent.

A ground floor executive apartment at George Town in regional Tasmania fetched $3.125 million. It was a three-bedroom 175 sqm apartment on the Tamar on the north coast of Tasmania.

The George Town apartment has wide-sweeping views of the river, the ocean and the town. Photo: Living Here

The results also included a three-bedroom 1959 weatherboard house at West Moonah in Hobart which sold pre-auction at $261,000. It had last sold in 2000 at $67,500.

CoreLogic advised it was the third-busiest weekend for auctions so far this year, returning a national preliminary clearance rate of 65.4 per cent across 3335 auctions.

There was a 62.8 per cent success rate across 2907 auctions last week.

“This time last year, 2987 homes were taken to auction and a clearance rate of 74.4 per cent was recorded,” CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.

The final clearance rate has remained below 65 per cent for the last four weeks.

He noted one of the biggest contributors to the softer auction market conditions is Sydney, where the final clearance rate has remained below 60 per cent since the last week of October, while Melbourne has slipped below 70 per cent for the second week in a row.

Melbourne was host to 1717 auctions this week and a preliminary clearance rate of 69.6 per cent was recorded, making it the second-busiest week for auctions in Melbourne this year.

Last week saw the final clearance rate drop to 69.2 per cent across 1296 auctions, the lowest clearance rate the city has seen since the beginning of July 2016.

One year ago, 1303 auctions were held across Melbourne and 79.4 per cent were successful.

Its results included Network Ten’s The Block winners Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker who sold their Coburg renovation project, just weeks after pocketing $547,000 for their Elsternwick efforts.

Strong bidding took the Coburg sale price to $1.631 million as four bidders fought for the property.

The price expectations for the renovated California-style bungalow sat between $1.35 million and $1.45 million.

It sold in original condition in 2014 for $600,000.

The home of a master craftsman and interior designer ensures every finish and feature is first-class. Photo: Hocking Stuart

An adjoining outdoor space designed for all-weather living and large-scale entertaining. Photo: Hocking Stuart

Across Sydney, preliminary results show that 61.5 per cent of the 756 reported auctions sold this week.

There were 1035 properties taken to auction across the city, down from 1102 last week when the final clearance rate was recorded at 58.5 per cent.

Over the same week last year, 1082 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 79.6 per cent was recorded.

In Sydney a large Paddington offering was the weekend’s big seller with six registered buyers seeking the six-bedroom Harris Street offering that fetched $5.16 million.

It was on the market for the first time in 60 years.

The 412 sqm landholding featuring a freestanding double-fronted main residence and a self-contained cottage with separate frontage had a R3 Zoning.

The preliminary clearance rate in Brisbane rose to 49.6 per cent across 213 auctions this week, from 44.1 per cent across 209 auctions last week, while this time last year 262 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 45.2 per cent was recorded.

Brisbane prices ranged from $344,000 at Margate to $1,415,000 at Milton.

In Adelaide, a 66.3 per cent preliminary result was recorded across 146 auctions. Last week, 128 Adelaide auctions returned a clearance rate of 62 per cent for the city, while at the same time last year, 137 homes were taken to auction, with 66 per cent recording a successful result.

Adelaide’s top advised result to Domain was just $801,000 when a 1910 three-bedroom house at 95 Kenilworth Rd, Parkside was sold. It had sold at $613,000 in 2007.

3.2 metre-high ceilings and fireplaces headline the four big main rooms and hall with a grand arch. Photo: Harris

The kitchen boasts a breakfast bar, wine rack, stone style bench tops and the living room opens out to an alfresco patio.Photo: Harris

Adelaide had the cheapest sale across Australia when $199,000 secured 8 McCartney St, Morphett Vale.

The brick veneer and tile residence was marketed as having “been subjected to termite damage” compromising the integrity of the home.

“The home offers the experienced builder or those looking to acquire the property at potentially less than land value an opportunity to capitalise on 560 sqm in a great location,” the marketing advised.

“This property is not for the faint hearted,” it added.

It had been a $300 a week rental for many years, having last sold in 1994 for $83,500.

Perth’s clearance rate of 60 per cent across 25 auction results is up from last week, when 40 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 50 per cent was recorded.

Canberra was the second-strongest weekend market, with 130 homes taken to auction with a clearance rate of 67.6 per cent, down slightly from 69.7 per cent the previous weekend.

Prices ranged from $427,500 at Theodore to $1.64 million at O’Connor.

Jonathan Chancellor is editor at large at Property Observer.