An iconic Victorian mansion in Brighton did not receive a single bid, even after being heavily discounted from its original $7 million price tag.

When the stunning circa 1880s house, Marama at 161 Church Street failed to sell with another real estate agency late last year, the vendors lowered their reserve to $6.4 million.

Even then, the landmark five-bedroom property, on nearly 1300-square metres, passed in on a vendor bid of $5.8 million in front of a big crowd.

It was one of about 1220 auctions held on Saturday. By the evening, Domain Group had collected 932 results to put the clearance rate at 81.4 per cent.

“Melbourne has recorded back-to-back boom-time results despite significantly fewer pre-Easter listings this year,” Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson said.

Castran Gilbert auctioneer Paul Castran said he was “gobsmacked” at the outcome because there was good interest during the campaign.

“You could have knocked me down because I had offers on it last night … [a buyer] was texting me,” he said, adding that it was rare for Victorians to pass in because they were in short supply.

An offer of $6 million was made by a family after the auction, with the property expected to sell in coming days.

Mr Castran described the mansion and its soaring tower as a “beautiful” home, which many people wrote about and photographed.

Inside, features include a 1400-bottle wine cellar, a large conservatory and dining room, and an enclosed pool with sauna and steam room.

On the other side of the city, it was better fortunes for a rundown single-fronted terrace in Fitzroy North – described by the agent as borderline liveable – which sold for $846,000.

The two-bedroom terrace at 167 Alexandra Parade was marketed as perhaps “the most affordable home you are likely to find in Fitzroy North”.

Five bidders competed with traffic noise on the main road for the renovator’s delight, with a young couple from Belgrave South snatching the keys after paying almost $200,000 over reserve.

Harrington Earl auctioneer John Harrington said some first home buyers might find it tough getting finance approved for the home because it had a Commercial 2 zoning. Lenders might require a higher deposit or need to see some equity in an existing home to approve a loan, he said.

The owners bought the property in 1984 and it was recently used as a rental.

In South Melbourne, a local eyesore that had been left vacant for 40 years sold to a couple who made just two bids – their last at $2,635,000.

Three bidders contended for the former milk bar and adjoining Victorian at 440-442 Park Street, previously owned by a family who owned the entire row of five terraces.

The original five-bedroom home, on 289-square metres, is part of a deceased estate and marketed as a blank-canvas opportunity.

Number 450 Park Street, an original two-bedroom terrace at the opposite end, sold for $1.4 million last December.

Greg Hocking Holdsworth auctioneer Sam Paynter said the property was one of a kind, and some people would drive by it all their life and wonder what was inside. It could be converted into one family home, with potential to subdivide it into two properties.

The buyers said they liked the beautiful quiet street, nearby cafes and planned to transform the property into a family home.

In the inner-east, a Deepdene period home at 10 Deepdene Road was saved from a bulldozer.

A family paid $2.42 million – $320,000 over reserve – for the three-bedroom house on 513-sq m with no heritage overlay.

Jellis Craig auctioneer Richard Earle said there were five would-be buyers, including the underbidder who had plans to knock it down.

And a West Footscray record for a family home was achieved after a four-bedroom house at 15 Rupert Street sold for $1,325,000 – $25,000 over reserve.

A family upgrading from Moonee Ponds trumped two other bidders to secure the keys, Hocking Stuart Sunshine agent Marcus Fregonese said.