The old man and the sea: 98yo’s waterfront home for sale

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PHOTO: Dr Roy Scragg, 98, is selling his iconic home at 36 South Esplanade, Glenelg South. Picture Dean Martin

IT was once lost in a game of two-up, and now one of the Adelaide’s’ most recognisable waterfront homes could be yours as it hits the market for the first time in 15 years.

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If you have a spare $4.5m to $4.95m, that is.

Dr Roy Scragg, 98, and his late wife Joy bought the 36 South Esplanande, Glenelg South home in 2006, attracted by the its prime waterfront location, and its history.

36 South Esplanade, Glenelg South. Supplied.

“We saw this one and we had to have it,” Dr Scragg said. “That was it. It was the best home we’d seen along all of Adelaide’s waterfront. Location-wise it doesn’t come any better down here. There aren’t many big old houses down here on the waterfront still standing.”

The land was bought by George Kohler in 1909 and the house built shortly after. In 1920, Kohler was playing two-up with Charles Ephrain Moore in Broken Hill and ran out of money, betting his house on the next throw of the coins. At the end of the game Mr Kohler was down £3000 and told Mr Moore he would pay his debt with the transfer of his Glenelg South property.

The pair arranged that Mr Moore would bring the money to Mr Kohler on a Friday in an effort to convince Mr Kohler’s wife that he had sold the property and not lost it gambling. Kohler received the money and gave it back to Moore the following Monday.

“It really does have a fascinating history,” Dr Scragg said.

As well as a fascinating story, Dr Scragg said the four-bedroom property on a 1096sqm allotment offered an amazing outlook.

“The sunsets here are unbelievable – gold, red and grey – all different colours depending on the clouds and the sun, and there are always people down here taking photographs when you get a good sunset,” Dr Scragg said.