The ultimate beachfront property you can’t sleep in

There are no bedrooms or bathrooms and they’re often without electricity or water, but a tightly held segment of the waterfront property market offers buyers the chance to own a slice of prime beach real estate.

Known as beach boxes, bathing boxes or boat sheds, the colorful and distinctive wooden huts dotted along the Victorian coastline are a popular place to take shelter at the beach, store fishing gear and relax.

And despite their basic structures, they can fetch more than the average Melbourne house.

Darren Sadler from Woodards Dromana believes his beach box listing at Hawkers Beach, Mt Martha in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula might be the only double storey box in Australia.

Advertised for sale via an Expression of Interest campaign with a guide of $500,000, the two-storey beach box is definitely the largest in the area, he told realestate.com.au.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This beach box is one of a kind. “Not only is it double storey, but it has amazing spectacular views of the city skyline,” he said.

“Whether you want to relax by the water listening to the blissful waves of the magnificent bay, or fish off the rocks this beach box is definitely a beach lover’s delight.”

Perhaps the most well-known beach boxes in Australia are those nestled along Brighton’s Dendy Street Beach, described as a popular ‘Bayside icon and cultural asset’ according to the Brighton Bathing Box Association.

“As simple structures, all retain classic Victorian architectural features with timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs,” it states.

“They remain as they did over one hundred years ago, as licensed bathing boxes. No service amenities such as electricity or water are connected.”

Jarrod Eastwood from Belle Property Rosebud and Dromana said beach boxes were quite often held within the same family for many years.

“Generally they are older clients and people who have owned property for many years, they hold onto them and the family uses them and all that kind of stuff,” he said.

“They’re hard to buy as well. But the people who buy them, they spend a lot of time at the beach, their family members use them …you can’t sleep in them or anything… and some people really love it.”

He estimates he has sold about five in his eight year career.

Quite often in Dromana, people will sell their home and nearby beach boxes, at one time, he said.

In January, Mr Greenwood sold Boatshed 26 in McCrae, which had been in the family of Carlton Football Club player Matthew Owies for about 56 years.

Spanning 18.55sqm of internal space, and with an approximate 4.86sqm deck, the picturesque beach box sold for $505,000 in what is believed to be a record for the area.

In December, the sale of a 20sqm boat shed set new record at Bonbeach, selling for $310,000.

Sales agent Simon Butterworth from Warlimont & Nutt Real Estate Mt Martha said typically beach boxes were held and passed down through a family for decades.

Rising interest rates meant it was harder for buyers to secure a loan to buy a box, he said, and cash buyers were common.

The most expensive boat shed is believed to have sold for close to $1.1m at Fishermans Beach, well above Melbourne’s median house price of $909,000 according to PropTrack.

It follows a summer spree of boat sheds and beach boxes on the market, with realestate.com.au listings showing several are still up for grabs with prices starting from $110,000.

Here are some opportunities for buyers interested in enjoying the beach from their own beach box next summer.

Beachside bliss awaits

Boasting a solid structure with good access just meters from the water’s edge Boatshed 100 North Beach, is one of a series of boxes along its stretch.

It is priced at $185,000 – $195,000.

Endless views

Boatshed 53 at Safety Beach spans an internal area of ​​6m by 3.2m and has a double door entry just footsteps from the beach.

Its features include a concrete base, double sink, bench area and parking directly behind.

It has an asking price of $400,000 to $420,000.

Fully equipped box

This Rosebud beach box has a secure front entrance, with a ramped entrance for easy access.

It also has shelving, as well as plenty of floor and storage space.

It is for sale for $150,000.

Newly restored

Priced at $199,500 – $219,450, this beach box at 98 North Beach, Mount Martha is described in its listing as “only a handful of held beach boxes on a pristine piece of Peninsula coastline.”

Its elevated position offers views down to the water from the newly renovated room.