Lydia Kellner

Updated 5 Feb 2024, 6:44pm

First published 5 Feb 2024, 5:00pm

News Corp Australia Network

The Colonel Light Gardens home at 37 Rozells Ave has sold under the hammer for $825,000. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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It’s in desperate need of hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs.

But that didn’t stop buyers from showing up in droves to bid on one of Adelaide’s most talked about ghost homes at auction.

Subject of much speculation among Colonel Light Gardens residents for well over three decades, 37 Rozells Ave sold under the hammer on Saturday for $825,000 – $115,000 above greater Adelaide’s median house price.

A considerable result, according to selling agent Sonja Dunbar of Turner Real Estate, who said the property had been sitting empty for 35 years.

Sonja and Chris Dunbar of Turner Real Estate sold the property. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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The property, known as Parnella, was once a well-loved family home. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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The former family bathroom and laundry. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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One of the home’s four bedrooms. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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Many of the floorboards have been eaten by termites, while a number of ceilings across the home’s main five rooms are caved-in.

“We had 10 registered bidders and a crowd of around 150 people, mostly curious neighbours, so the result was really solid even though the auction was really slow and our auctioneer had to work hard to get that result,” Ms Dunbar said.

“In the end, it all turned out perfectly and the top bidders, we found out after, are people who only live three streets away and always wanted to buy into the area.

“They are passionate about restoring the property … and plan to work really hard to bring it back to its original form in the front part of the home and enjoy a big, beautiful extension in the back.

“So they really are the perfect buyers, and many of the neighbours came up to them, welcoming them to the neighbourhood, which was just amazing to see.”

The 1926-built character estate, known as Parnella, has long been considered a ghost home among locals, with many tales spun, particularly around Halloween, as to why no living person was ever seen entering or leaving the property.

The fact that the property always appeared fully furnished and with cars in the driveway also didn’t help.

Speculation was officially laid to rest last month, when the property was listed for sale and revealed as a deceased estate.

One of the home’s living areas with an original fireplace. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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The property was sold at auction before a crowd of about 150 people. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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It has certainly seen better days … Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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It needs a lot of work but that wasn’t enough to deter prospective buyers. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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The home was built in 1926. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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“The property was a much-loved family home for decades, but after the mum passed away, the adult daughter couldn’t bear to sell the property,” Ms Dunbar said.

“Unfortunately, the years go by, and the home fell into terrible disrepair.

“Over the years damage from a lack of maintenance, the natural elements and, I think, maybe even some squatters have taken a toll.

“But it’s easy to look past the mess and see that so much of the original charm and heritage features of the home are still there, ready for someone with vision and a love of the history of the suburb to bring it back to life for another century to come.”