Winning bidders Kirandeep and Gurshish Nehal and their daughters, with the Villawood and Henley Homes team, at the 2026 Good Appeal house auction. Photo: Alan Barber.
A record $1.212m was raised for The Royal Children’s Hospital at this year’s Good Friday Appeal auction in Melbourne’s west.
The 2026 event, when a home in Tarneit was sold to a local family, surpassed the previous $1,150,500 fetched by a Geelong home at last year’s auction.
The new owners of the Tarneit residence have a special connection with the Royal Children, as one of their daughters, now a teenager, was born there.
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Voluntary brokers and suppliers have joined forces with Henley Homes to build a five-bedroom residence on land donated by Villawood Properties.
Henley general manager of marketing Tindi Sorbera said this year marks the 47th home the builder has built for the Good Friday Appeal, which has helped raise $22.7m for the cause over three decades.
“More than 30 registered to apply today and I would say at least five raised their hands,” said Mr Sorbera.
![Winning bidders Kirandeep and Gurshish Nehal in Good Friday Appeal 2026 in Tarneit. Photo: Alan Barber.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Winning bidders Gurshish and Kirandeep Nehal outside their new home in Tarneit. Photo: Alan Barber.
The couple received a standing ovation from the crowd following their winning bid. Photo: Alan Barber.
Villawood Properties chief executive Rory Costelloe said the final price was $61,500 more than the 2025 auction result.
About 1,000 spectators watched the home go under the hammer on the day including the Truganina Fire Brigade, a Bollywood performance, face painters and music, he added.
“Everything from the auction goes to the Royal Children’s Hospital,” said Mr Costelloe.
“Everyone knows someone who has needed a hospital at some point – that’s why this auction is such an important day, not just for Villawood and Henley, but for the hundreds of companies and suppliers who use their skills, work and support for this wonderful community endeavour.
The Tarneit house sold on Good Friday was built by Henley Homes, volunteer tradesmen and suppliers on land donated by Villawood Properties.
The kitchen, with dining area, opens to an outdoor entertaining area.
The new owners of the two-storey house, husband and wife Gurshish and Kirandeep, plan to move in with their two daughters, aged 14 and 10 years.
Mr Nehal said their eldest daughter was born at the Children’s Centre, while their youngest daughter had already chosen her bedroom before the auction started.
“This house is really amazing, well built and I would say it is one of the best houses in Tarneit,” he said.
Mr Nehal went slightly over their budget to secure the accommodation but continued to bid “because it’s for such a good cause”.
Auctioneer Paul Tsamalis officiates. Photo: Alan Barber.
New home owners Kirandeep and Gurshish Nehal signed the contracts along with Henley general manager of marketing Tindi Sorbera, Alamora housing director Sree Datti, Good Friday Appeal director and Villawood chief executive Rory Costelloe. Photo: Alan Barber.
The 7-star house, located in Alamora, is sold fully furnished and includes a fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and two televisions.
Set on a 448sq m block, it has a kitchen with dining area, multiple living areas, a home theater and a study.
The house, based on a model of Henley’s Mainvue collection, faces the wetlands and is adjacent to Club Alamora, a private residents’ club with a gym, pool, cafe, and work space.
The birthday boys, brothers Keni and Kobi, were cheered on by singer Marcus Hayden, along with Villawood’s Shannon Straughen and hundreds of attendees at the auction. Keni is still attending RCH after undergoing a craniotomy to remove a brain tumor in 2023. Photo: Alan Barber.
Auctioneer Paul Tsamalis and Alamora estate manager Sree Datti at the Friday Appeal auction house in Tarneit. Photo: Alan Barber.
Auction Company director Paul Tsamalis, three-time winner of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria Auctioneer of the Year, conducted the auction.
As a child, Mr. Tzamas received treatment for asthma at RCH.
“It’s always been an important safety net for families, and that idea doesn’t leave you,” Mr Tzamalis said.
“Driving this auction is something I take very seriously.”
Good Friday Appeal director Rebecca Cowan said the annual house auction helped the RCH continue to provide life-changing care for families.
“Since 1993, Charity House’s campaigns have raised more than $21m, with every cent going towards vital fundraising projects for sick children and families across Victoria,” Ms Cowen said.
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