‘Oldest investor’ sells up at 107 years old

A Queensland property owner dubbed ‘Australia’s oldest property investor’ is selling up.

Aunty Jean, as she is known, is 107 years old, and has engaged Blue Moon Property director Justin Voss to finally sell what was once her family home in Brisbane.

“Aunty Jean, she is a legend,” Mr Voss said, adding that while he personally is not related to the centenarian, his business partner Craig Cleary is. “She reckons she is going to live to 110 next.” Now residing in Melbourne, Aunty Jean was “one of the original Grace Bros ladies who wore the pristine white gloves in the shops”. Grace Bros was later bought by Myer.

“We hold the opinion that Aunty Jean is our countries (sic) oldest ever real estate investor,” the listing for 1 Wirega St, Wavell Heights, says. “Her home provides an exciting opportunity for the next family to obtain a special plot of real estate.”

And the 1950s-era house itself is a bit of a time capsule, with retro furniture and wallpaper throughout. On a 599sq m corner block, the house has two bedrooms, one bathroom and space for one car.

“Can the old house be restored to its former glory?” the listing says. “It could be too big a project for the average handyman, but the roof doesn’t leak and water doesn’t get into the home.”

Aunty Jean said they moved from Brighton to Wavell Heights on Christmas Eve in 1956 with two young twin boys.

“Wirega St was a long vacant street but houses were built in a short period of time,” she said. “We were situated on the side of a hill, and had limited chance of flooding.”

Aunty Jean lived in the house until her husband’s passing in early 2019.

“We saw many changes in the area and were regarded as the patriarchs of the street,” she said. “We would sit on the front porch and watch the world go by and enjoyed chatting to any passing neighbours.”

The median house price in Wavell Heights is now $1.18 million, up a whopping 53.5 per cent in just three years.

Mr Voss and fellow director Indiana Voss will take the property to auction on March 3.

“I have been selling homes for 35 years and never before dealt with a centenarian, let alone a great lady who is 107,” Mr Voss said.