A beautifully transformed Victorian terrace at Kepos Street in Redfern, nicknamed the Gingerbread House for its ornate facade, is heading to auction in March, after a top-to-bottom renovation turned a rundown deceased estate into a striking 21st century home.
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The property at 50 Kepos Street, Redfern, goes under the hammer on Saturday, 7 March at 9:45am. It is listed with a buyer’s guide of $3 million.
Two years ago, the two-bedroom terrace on a 107-square-metre block was a far cry from its current state. Peeling paint, mouldy ceilings, a grime-caked bathroom, a dated ’70s kitchen and a courtyard lost beneath knee-high weeds — the interiors told a story of decades of neglect.
Yet the home’s ornate Victorian facade, whimsical enough to evoke Hansel and Gretel, proved irresistible when it went to auction in 2024 as a deceased estate. Twelve registered bidders showed up and drove the price to $1.81 million — a staggering $510,000 above the $1.3 million reserve.
The property carried a piece of local history with it. It was part of the estate of Bill Hartup, who served as Mayor of South Sydney between 1969 and 1981. Hartup and his wife Eileen had purchased the home for around $30,000 in 1980, later selling it to their son Peter for $55,000 in 1986. Hartup passed away in 2014.
The buyers, husband and wife Gavin Suyatika and Shannon Suryawan, purchased the home with plans to renovate and sell, aiming to honour its heritage character while bringing it into the present.
Working alongside business partner Billy Satya and design studio Sandbox Studio, the couple preserved the traditional Victorian shell while adding a contemporary white box on top to accommodate two bedrooms and a bathroom — a deliberate juxtaposition between old and new, as the owners described it.
The result is a home that feels both rooted in its era and thoroughly modern. Natural light pours through numerous skylights, transforming what was once a dark and dingy hallway. At the front of the house, a master suite with original pressed-metal ceilings makes an immediate impression.
Further along, a compact laundry and powder room lead through to a dining area that opens onto an atrium garden. The kitchen features a marble island bench, integrated Miele appliances, bespoke custom cabinetry and a dedicated wine fridge. A rear laneway provides direct vehicle access to the backyard.
Construction began last May and wrapped up in early December, on time and, notably, on budget. All materials were locally sourced, with nothing imported, something the owners described as a priority.
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Despite a recent interest rate rise, early signs point to solid buyer activity in the local market. Open home numbers are tracking ahead of the same period last year, though the agent noted it remains to be seen which direction the market heads as more stock comes on. Agent Chris Nunn noted that renovation costs have blown out significantly since Covid, making a turnkey property increasingly attractive to buyers.
The auction is scheduled for Saturday, 7 March at 9:45am. The campaign is being handled by Chris Nunn of BresicWhitney, with a buyer’s guide of $3 million.
Published 28-February-2026
