The heritage home of Brisbane’s musical pioneers, the Benvenuti family, has sold for $2.75 million at auction on August 30, 2024. The sale price exceeded the reserve by over $1 million, marking the first time the property at 27 Agnes Street has changed hands since its construction over a century ago.
The Benvenuti family, Italian immigrants who arrived in Australia in the 1800s, significantly influenced Brisbane’s cultural development. Their four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home was one of three properties they built side by side over two decades, with number 27 serving as their primary residence.
The auction, conducted by David Holmes of Holmes Auctions, saw fierce competition among five registered bidders. Beginning with a vendor bid of $1.3 million, the property quickly went on the market at $1.7 million. What followed was described by Holmes as an “absolutely brutal mathematical test,” with 65 bids driving the price to its final figure.
Ivo Kornel, agent at Sixty Four Property New Farm, reported that the winning bidder is a local Fortitude Valley resident. Kornel expressed surprise at the final sale price, which far exceeded initial expectations of $1.6-1.7 million.
The Benvenuti family’s musical legacy in Brisbane dates back to the 1870s. They formed a four-piece orchestra with father Antonio on violin, and sons Luigi, Victor, and Italo playing double bass, piano, and flute respectively. Victor Benvenuti also gained recognition as a composer, known for works including ‘Britons to the Fore’.
Published 30-August-2024
