Essendon captain Dyson Heppell and the AFL club’s former skipper Matthew Lloyd recouped good returns when they sold their Melbourne investment properties over the weekend.

Heppell’s three-bedroom, Moonee Ponds terrace fetched $1.44 million after being passed in at $1.35 million. 

The 1880s Chaucer St offering cost $1,065,000 in 2013 before becoming a $700 a week rental property.

Lloyd’s three-bedroom 1890s Albert Park cottage sold for $1.85 million after it passed in on a vendor bid of $1.8 million at its Greg Hocking Holdsworth auction.

Matthew Lloyd’s Albert Park cottage sold for $1.85 million

The 1890s home was renovated in 2007

Renovated in 2007, it previously sold for $1,477,500 in 2010. 

Heppell secured just over nine percent annual price growth during his three plus years while Lloyd achieved three percent annual growth during his six years.

The highest price paid over the weekend came in Sydney, where a five bedroom McMahons Point house with Harbour Bridge views sold post-auction for $9.38 million.

Located at 3A Warung Street, the tri-level property is set in a prized waterfront enclave.

The McMahon Point home looks to have set a record for the year so far. Photo: McGrath

After passing in at auction, it eventually sold for $9.38 million. Photo: McGrath

The property’s agents, McGrath, suggested the sale was the Sydney lower north shore’s highest auction result so far this year.

After nine contracts were issued, just two interested parties competed for the home which was passed in at $9.1 million.

It sold post-auction to a couple reportedly downsizing from Hurstville, according to Domain. 

Another highlight in Sydney saw the waterfront 1870s Balmain home of anthropology academic Professor Richard Wright fetch $6.1 million, well above its $5.5 million reserve, when offered for the first time in more than five decades.

Back in Melbourne, a four bedroom 1920s Toorak home sold for $5.5 million in what was the city’s highest priced result.

The 684 Orrong Road property set on 877 sqm of land last traded almost 50 years ago.

The solid brick residence was marketed with a price guide of $4 million-plus through Marshall White as available for immediate residency, renovation or development as apartments or townhouses.

The Toorak home was last up for grabs almost 50 years ago. Photo: Marshall White

The home was marketed by Marshall White as a home or development opportunity. Photo: Marshall White

Auction results continue their strong run into March, with Sydney and Melbourne recording an 80% clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.

The property data firm said the preliminary clearance rate across the combined capital cities fell slightly, from 78.4 per cent to 77.8 per cent, based on preliminary results.

The number of auctions held across the capitals was lower, with 2,714 held compared to 3,301 over the previous weekend, which was a record high for February.

“In comparison, over the corresponding weekend last year, both the combined capital city clearance rate and the number of auctions were lower, with 2,304 auctions held and 68.6 per cent reported as successful,” Kevin Brogan, CoreLogic’s auction commentator said. 

Sydney saw the clearance rate remain above 80 per cent for the fourth week in a row, and Melbourne for the second week in a row, while across the remaining cities week-on-week results show a fall in clearance rates with the exception of Perth, where results improved, and Tasmania, which remained unchanged over the week.

Melbourne was host to 1,399 auctions and preliminary results show a clearance rate of 80.4 per cent, down slightly from last week’s final clearance rate of 81 per cent across 1,635 auctions.

Sydney’s preliminary auction clearance rate increased to 80.5 per cent from 80 per cent last week.

Across Brisbane, the clearance rate was 59 per cent, down from 62 per cent last week, but higher than the 50 per cent a year ago.

Hendra had the top Brisbane price when $3.5 million was paid for a five bedroom home rich in original features.

This five bedroom Hendra home went for $3.5 million. Photo: Ray White

It boasts high ceilings, polished floorboards and is located north-east of the Brisbane CBD. Photo: Ray White

A total of 120 auctions were held in Adelaide, down from 122 last weekend, although higher than last year (99).

Adelaide’s preliminary results show 69 per cent sold, down from the prior 71 per cent when the city recorded the highest clearance rate for the year to date.

The preliminary clearance rate for Perth was 36 per cent, compared to 30 per cent last weekend and 21 per cent last year.

Canberra’s clearance rate fell to 70 per cent, after being recorded at 76 per cent last weekend.

An auction in Forde set a suburb $1.4 million suburb record by $130,000, according to Domain.

This Forde home broke a suburb record by more than $100,000. Photo: Luton

The glistening backyard pool is one of the home’s drawcards. Photo: Luton

It was a five bedroom offering on an 800 sqm block at 3 Arndt Street.