More than 50 people gathered in Little Main Street for the auction of four shops in the heart of Palmwoods on Saturday. 

Zoned village centre, the 506sq m holding contains the original Pages Cafe, dating back to 1912. 

The property comprises a single unit dwelling, three professional offices plus restaurant and cafe, natural remedy shop and beauty therapist. All this on one title.

Auctioneer Gordon MacDonald bid a warm welcome. 

“Little Main Street, little by name, big by nature. An iconic Palmwoods building, right in the heart of town.”

“What’s it worth?” the auctioneer asked. “Where would we like to see the negotiations start? Iconic real estate, iconic time. We have a good number of registrations.”

That saw a modest $500,000 start. 

“I would suggest $25,000 bids from here.”

Two bidders then started jousting it out. “Is it on the market?” was a question from the floor.

“I don’t use those words,” said Mr MacDonald.

$675,000 was called twice before marketing agent Mike Burns did the rounds of registered buyers.  

Mr MacDonald: “Conversations being had here. I’ll find out what’s going on.”

The price crept up to $705,000.

“We have a high regard of where the property sits in the market. If we don’t reach that we will go into further negotiations.”

There were two more seconds before Mr Burns made an overseas phone call.

“$725,000 now, and if no further bids, it will be sold at that figure,” reported Mr MacDonald.

Bidding continued 735, 740, 745. Until it sold for $775,000.

Mr Burns said the successful local bidder was looking forward to being the proud owner. 

“I guess the appeal of such an iconic piece of Palmwoods’ history got to him,” he said.