the property was put up for auction on tuesday 18 december 1973, at a boom time for real estate prices. it was known to be of interest to developers as a large area of land in close proximity to the city and a sale price of around one and a quarter million dollars was considered likely. the buildings were already classified by the national trust as of historical importance and worthy of preservation and the historical buildings preservation council now became involved, registering the market seventeen days prior to the auction. since this meant that it could not be demolished, the highest likely bidders were no longer interested and the property was passed in at auction for nine hundred and twenty five thousand dollars.