First-home buyer pays $1.2 million in Redfern Time capsule home blitzes reserve First home buyer spends big for historic family home. Domain's Toby Johnstone checks out the action. PT1M34S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2vtes 620 349 October 19, 2013 - 3:41PM It has been with the one family since 1927, and still seems stuck in a time warp. But 86 years after it was purchased for 525 pounds, the Curtin family sold their four-bedroom Redfern home on Saturday for $1,207,500 - more than $200,000 above the million dollar reserve. ""I initially thought we'd be lucky to get $800,000,"" said Laurel Curtin, who has lived in the house at 111 Marriott Street since 1956. The house has been in much the same state since its renovation more than 50 years ago. Seaton Jones from BresicWhitney had the price guide at $925,000-plus. Of the 30 that turned up to the 9am auction, four registered to bid. The rest were simply there to take a tour of the house, which has been in much the same state since its renovation more than 50 years ago. ""That was part of what attracted us to the place, I don't mind a bit of kitsch,"" said the first-home buyer who snagged it, Frances St John. The Redfern home sold for $1,207,500 - more than $200,000 above the million dollar reserve. The 29-year-old solicitor and her venture-capitalist husband Adam St John, 30, plan to live in it, as is, for a few years. ""Then when we've got enough money we'll renovate and make it a more modern home,"" she said. The house is a mix of patterns, tones and textures, with dated wallpaper and retro carpets. Before the 1950s kitchen was put in, the family used stacked apple crates to store cutlery and plates. The terrace has been with the one family since 1927, and still seems stuck in a time warp. Ms Curtin purchased the property from her father 57 years ago, with her late husband John. They paid 500 pounds. Their daughter, Gwen Hunter, said Redfern was a great place to grow up. ""We would get into a lot of trouble as kids,"" said Ms Hunter. ""My sister even got caught by the Crown Sergeant one day and marched home."" Ms Hunter said that over the years Redfern had lost its community feel but that could be about to change. ""It is good that a lot of young families are now moving in,"" she said. ""But there are also a lot of investors so I hope the houses don't lose their character.""