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The view of the estate from the Knightsbridge Parade East.

IT’S been seven years since Riccardo Rizzi placed the winning $5.3 million bid on a partly constructed Sovereign Islands estate.

Original owners Scott Tyne and Clare Marks had reportedly already outlaid $21.44 million on the initial construction and four blocks of land on Knightsbridge Parade East.

Their dream was to build a modern day 100-year-old chateau, designed by the renowned Brunei Royal Family architect Bayden Goddard.

Exterior photos of the unfinished residence in 2013. Picture: Williams Jerad

The sprawling Mediterranean masterpiece was taking shape on the best parcel of land facing due north down the Broadwater before the banks moved in.

Photos taken prior to the mortgagee auction in 2013 show weeds had started to take over the concrete structure which was still a long way off resembling a home.

It’s a daunting project for anyone to take over and one which Mr Rizzi has embraced without regret.

“Very few times in life you’re given a gift from heaven to do something and this project was mine,” he said.

“It was probably one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done in my life.

“It was a combination of so many different skills that needed to be put together to do it.”

Riccardo Rizzi placed the winning bid at auction in 2013.

A civil engineer with a background in project management, Mr Rizzi took a methodical approach to organising the paperwork into folders and boxes – enough to fill an entire room – to get his head around the monstrous task ahead.

His first act was to pay the tradespeople and consultants what they were owed and rehire as many as possible.

“Virtually everyone was put on an hourly rate,” Mr Rizzi said.

“Come Friday I would do a bank run and everyone would get paid.

“People who didn’t meet the standard, didn’t make it to the following week so we did have a reasonable turn over.”

Some of those original tradesmen – including a carpenter and a tiler – have worked on the house since building began in 2008.

Detailed finishes inside the residence were completed by hand.

At the height of construction, there were 20 or more workers on site, with detailed finishes including herringbone timber flooring and marble stonework completed carefully by hand.

“I met a lot of good people, some fantastic tradesmen who were a privilege to work with,” said Mr Rizzi, who counts ‘after work beers’ among his fondest memories.

“Not many people are in a position to give up seven years of their life to complete a project. I got so much enjoyment from doing it.”

Hours of research were devoted to selecting the finishes and fixtures, including an original 4m high, 1.5 tonne bronze statue of Neptune, imported from Florence at an estimated cost of $400,000.

Mr Rizzi prefers to confine his use of the house to the kitchen.

That statue graces the entry foyer where a spectacular domelike cupola, thought to be the only one of its kind in an Australian residence, rises 14.5m over head.

Living in such a grand estate has been an experience in itself for the bachelor who occupies only a small area.

“When I say I live in the house, I live in the kitchen,” Mr Rizzi said.

“The kitchen is more than 100 sqm which is in fact the size of a three-bedroom apartment, so I’m more than comfortable.

“To go from the kitchen to the master bedroom suite, I think even Usain Bolt would take more than 10 seconds to run it.”

Mr Riccardo Rizzi outside the residence in 2015. Picture Mike Batterham

Profit was never the main driver for Mr Rizzi who hasn’t put a value on the cost of completing the estate, which has previously been listed for $45 million.

Amir Prestige has set an auction for October 17 as Mr Rizzi makes plans to move closer to his adult children in Perth.

The completed residence is a sight to behold.

But rather than revel in the success of seeing the project through, he’s quick to pass credit to those who laid the foundations.

“Scott Tyne had an inspiring vision to set this whole project up and no one can take that from him,” Mr Rizzi said.

“He should be a very proud man, alongside his wife, as they are talented and gifted people.

“I wish them well and am extremely grateful that this opportunity came about.”

Plans are already in the pipeline for another major project in Perth for Mr Rizzi, buoyed by the confidence of conquering an inconquerable dream.

“What I found when I did the house is that I’ve elevated myself to a level that when I see a challenge, irrespective of how complex it appears, it is in fact an accumulation of individual singular simple problems,” he said.

“Now I find that I can actually deal with things that might otherwise seem impossible.”

The completed residence at 26-34 Knightsbridge Parade East, Sovereign Islands.

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The Burnside home at 35 Royal Avenue looks like a historic mansion. Supplied: Martin Real Estate.

You could be forgiven for mistaking this Burnside home for a historic mansion.

Its grand facade and 19th century-style interior offer an old-world charm – but the home is actually less than 30 years old.

The four-bedroom house at 35 Royal Avenue, which is on the market, was built in 1993 by renowned Adelaide builder David Cheney.

Martin Real Estate director Colin Martin, who is selling the 1680sqm property, said the owners worked with Cheney to design the period recreation and spared no expense building it.

High ceilings and chandeliers make it feel grand inside. Supplied: Martin Real Estate.

The kitchen is complete with a marble island bench. Supplied: Martin Real Estate.

“They waited and waited for him to be available to do it,” he said.

“It looks like a small castle from the road because it has that turret look to it in the brickwork.

“Leading up to the property … it gives off a very stately feel.”

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Lofty ceilings, ornate arches, leadlight windows, parquetry flooring and detailed fireplaces are among the home’s grand character features.

One of its four bedrooms has a walk-in wardrobe, another has french doors that open to the side yard, and the master suite is complete with both a walk-in robe and an ensuite.

Leadlight windows give the home character. Supplied: Martin Real Estate.

It also has two fireplaces. Supplied: Martin Real Estate.

The heart of the home is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area with chandeliers, quality wallpapers and an abundance of windows – including a bay window – that fill the home with natural light

The dining room opens to the garden at one side, and to a covered alfresco entertainment area at the other.

There’s also an arbour and a shed outside, among established landscaped gardens, covered parking for six cars and a cellar.

Mr Martin said the owners were selling the home, which is listed without a price tag, to downsize.

The post Grand Burnside home resembles a historic mansion appeared first on realestate.com.au.

11a Ormerod Court, Gisborne has come close to quadrupling in value in 20 years.

The old adage that Melbourne house prices double every 10 years has blown out.

Latest figures from realestate.com.au show at Melbourne’s current 4.8 per cent 10-year average growth rate, it would take a $750,000 median house 14 years to reach $1.5m.

And with COVID-19 set to drag down household incomes, it will become even longer, experts are tipping.

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Median house prices doubled in just 12 Melbourne suburbs over the past decade; the list dominated by Mornington Peninsula postcodes and former new housing estate suburbs.

SUBURBS THAT HAVE DOUBLED

Flinders: $785,000 (2010) – $2,472,400 (2020)

Fingal: $420,000 (2010) – $1.301m (2020)

Botanic Ridge: $270,000 (2010) – $720,000 (2020)

Rockbank: $250,000 (2010) – $610,000 (2020)

Tyabb: $375,000 (2010) – $892,500 (2020)

Waterways: $570,000 (2010) – $1.282m (2020)

St Andrews Beach: $492,500 (2010) – $1.095m (2020)

Beveridge: $279,250 (2010) – $590,000 (2020)

Eynesbury: $281,000 (2010) – $593,750 (2020)

Warneet: $287,000 (2010) – $603,000 (2020)

Diggers Rest: $263,500 (2010) – $538,500 (2020)

Cockatoo: $337,500 (2010) – $675,000 (2020)

Source: realestate.com.au

On the Mornington Peninsula, suburbs including Flinders and Fingal had home values come close to tripling in value due to a rapid shift in popularity, realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said.

“Flinders is like the new Portsea, when you look at the types of people moving down there and the types of houses being built — there’s definitely a bit of money flowing down to the area,” Ms Conisbee said.

Houses like 1859 Mornington Flinders Road, Flinders, aren’t what they used to be.

Ms Conisbee said regional cities and towns were the most likely to see prices double in the next 10 years, with significant appetite from Melbourne-based buyers already emerging outside the big smoke.

Kinglake, Kinglake West, Mount Macedon and Gisborne were among the towns just outside Melbourne to achieve the astonishing growth marker over the past decade.

The 11A Ormerod Court, Gisborne home of Rod Clough and his partner Leone Ramage is on track to quadruple since they bought it about 20 years ago.

Rod Clough and Leone Ramage are selling their Gisborne home of about 20 years for about four times what they paid for it. Picture: Mark Stewart

The pair are downsizing and were thrilled to have it listed at $890,000-$920,000.

“It’s as close to the city as Melton, but still has that country feel — and there are good schools,” Mr Clough said.

Further afield, Trentham, Kyneton, Ballarat Central, North Geelong and Malmsbury also had median property prices double.

Mr Clough said he had added the pool after watching the suburb’s prices rise.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria vice president Adam Docking said while one-time housing estate Botanic Ridge had also doubled, mature housing estate developments often benefited from one-off price jumps after local infrastructure was completed and land sales stopped.

Mr Docking said many Melburnians were still lulled into hoping prices would double every 10 years by fluctuations in Melbourne’s house price medians, which often surged rapidly.

“People just notice when they do shoot up,” he said.

“Everyone seems to sit there and say property prices double every 10 years, but right now they can’t — there can’t be exponential growth.”

Real Estate Buyers Advocates Association president Cate Bakos said the 10-year “rule” was a misconception, but it could be achieved with smart purchases.

Suburbs such as Glenroy could be in a position to have prices rise as a result of gentrification.

“Our ability to continue aggressive growth is based on wage growth,” Ms Bakos said.

“In the ‘50s we had one income households, in the ‘70s we started to see dual incomes with part time work … we are now in a position where there’s no real scope for that to continue. We are now at capacity for most two income households.”

She advised hunting in a suburb about to gentrify such as Glenroy and Reservoir, or one set to continue gentrifying, like Oakleigh, Preston, Chelsea and Footscray.

“If you know what you are doing and buy a great asset that’s placed for gentrification you will find a property that can double in 10 years,” Ms Bakos said.

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Staging a property correctly can play a crucial role in its sale.

Stage four lockdown is the perfect opportunity to restyle your home in preparation for sale, in order to have the upper hand when the market reopens.

From a fresh coat of paint to simple spring cleaning, experts say simple tasks could help grab buyers’ attention.

Interiored interior designer Elissa Then said property styling should be seen as “an investment” that could hold the key to securing a sale.

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Thoughtful accessories like throws and cushions can provide a finishing touch.

“The most important tip is to clean, declutter, and depersonalise,” Ms Then said.

Removing personal items like family photos and trinkets should be first on the to-do list, she added.

“It helps buyers visualise their own items in the space,” she said.

“And it will open up the rooms to appear more spacious, and easier to walk through in open for inspections.”

Interiored interior designer Elissa Then.

While using a professional stylist was always recommended, vendors who chose to go it alone could perform simple tasks themselves, like painting walls a clean white, or upgrading small items like cushions and throws.

Undertaking projects like creating a feature wall for added drama could also make all the difference, and still be done on a budget.

Ms Then suggested going for a neutral palette with hints of colour.

Updating walls with natural colours is often a safe bet.

“Generally whites or soft greys are used for a timeless look,” she said.

”And add a touch of luxury to each room to get that designer look, with reflective objects and accessories that can help to give the illusion of a bigger room – think things like mirrors or candles.

“The key thing is to make the home look relatively new and comfortable to live in, so buyers will have a direct interest and emotional attachment to the property.”

Hiring a staging company, which would have modern furniture and artwork on hand, for part of the styling was another way to bring life back into a property.

From furniture layouts to paint colours, there’s a number of things to consider.

Vendor Marketing principal advisor Craig Knudsen said sellers should take a holistic view of their home’s presentation and avoid getting wrapped up in their own personal attachment.

He said it was crucial to maintain a home’s facade, which would likely be the hero image of the sales listing, so buyers got a strong first impression.

“When a buyer walks up to the front of a home, it’s got to be warm and inviting, and that needs to continue when they step foot inside,” Mr Knudsen said.

“If it’s contemporary home, it should have contemporary furniture.” The same principle applied for a heritage home, he said.

The vendor advocate said he had found a property’s styling could be the factor that got a buyer over the line.

If the home belongs to a specific era it’s important to be cohesive.

Sellers who made the most of their time in lockdown to prepare their home could reap the rewards once restrictions eased, he added.

“As more listings come up after lockdown, buyers will have more choice and might be more selective,” Mr Knudsen said.

“It’s going to be first in, best dressed, and styling is certainly going to be paramount,” he said.

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christina.karras@news.com.au

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2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

A Piccadilly home offers a grand entertainer’s lifestyle and is a hit with the native wildlife.

It’s owners, semi-retired property developer and builder Roger Langford, and Johanna Paddick, built the home in 1993, making it a one-of-a-kind property their family could enjoy throughout the different stages of their lives.

2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

“My wife didn’t want any square rooms, so we’ve got high raked ceilings and the home’s set over a few different levels,” Mr Langford says.

“It’s had a few improvements since then and in the past few months we’ve rendered and put stonework on, polished floors and changed carpets and so on. It was pretty edgy when we built it and it was up for a few awards at the time. I’ll be sad to sell it because it’s been such a functional, comfortable and cosy place to be, with a lot of assets.”

2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

The home has four bedrooms and a spacious home office with an inbuilt desk and shelving. There’s also a living area near the minor bedrooms, while the rest of the home comprises a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area that opens out to a deck; and formal dining and lounge rooms. Outside, the property has a pool with a patio and pergola area and a pool house with a bar, a living area and a bathroom.

2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

“We’ve had lots of good times around the pool and the pool house,” Mr Langford says.

“We had some big parties there and would have well over 100 people here – there have been lots of 16ths, 18ths, 21sts and so on and we’ve hosted lots of dinner parties. We get kangaroos and have deer in our driveway sometimes, and at my son’s 21st last year people were looking over the fence and astounded there were bandicoots in the paddocks next door and at the end of the night they were walking around trying to steal the food off people’s plates.

2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

You can have horses here, and we’ve had sheep and cattle here to help keep the grass down. It’s a great family home and I’d think it’d be perfect for a family.”

Mr Langford says he’s proud of the home and will miss it, but it’s time for a change of scenery.

“I was born at Glenelg and have spent the past 40 years in the Hills and now I’m heading back down to the coast,” he says.

2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

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2 Ross Rd, Piccadilly

$1.65 million

Agent: Harris Real Estate, Josh Biggs 0407 604 041, and Arabella Hooper 0403 336 407. Land size: 3.23ha. Auction: Wednesday, October 7 at 1pm.

The post Live a life of luxury in a builder’s own home in Piccadilly appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Barry Plant Highton agent Kieron Hunter calls the auction at 8 Angus Street, Belmont. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The first on-site auction since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in regional Victoria has to put some cream on top of a strong result for a Belmont vendor.

A two-bedroom townhouse at 8 Angus Street, Belmont, sold for $546,000 after three bidders contested Saturday’s auction.

Barry Plant, Highton agent Kieron Hunter said being able stand at the property and encourage buyers to continue bidding helped eclipse the reserve by $26,000.

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Mr Hunter had continued to auction properties using an online app during the lockdown but said returning on site paid immediate dividends.

“You’ll never know what’s better (online or on-site because you’ll never be able to do the two side-by-side but I do feel that in person, to be able to have that personal touch, we were able to encourage them to take another bid,” he said.

“The reality is there was another $6000 there, just from encouragement.”

The unsuccessful bidders. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Ben, a first-home buyer who didn’t want to reveal his surname, has cemented an escape from Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.

Although the health care worker didn’t attend the auction, his Geelong-based parents bid for the 312sq m property on his behalf.

“I’ve been looking to enter the property market for the last year or so, so with everything happening in the current climate, Geelong seemed like a logical fit for my lifestyle and being closer to the family,” he said.

Bidders wore masks and observed social distancing at the auction. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“It’s definitely a good fit. I think it was a really nicely and neatly-presented property – fairly low maintenance.

“I’m in my late 20s, so I’m a young professional, work in health care, and it suited my lifestyle really well.

“It has a nice little entertaining area so an opportunity to be social with friends, but it’s not a property that needs to undertake too much maintenance on.”

Hopeful buyers at 8 Angus Street, Belmont. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Ben said his immediate family had relocated to Geelong in recent years.

“I have been working in Melbourne, but I’ll be residing in Geelong in the next couple of months so I’ll be looking at commuting and doing some work locally as well,” he said.

“I can split my time between the two and maybe in the future transition further down the Surf Coast.

“My mum and her family are from Geelong and surf coast originally.

8 Angus Street, Belmont, has sold for $546,000.

8 Angus Street, Belmont, has sold for $546,000.

“It’s always had a bit of appeal to us. As kids we were coming down here fairly often, so I see Geelong and the surf coast as being a nice happy medium.”

Mr Hunter said there were 10 people at the auction, including a fourth party that didn’t bid and two onlookers.

“The neighbours from across the road were inconspicuously watering the garden,” he said.

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8B Romilly Street, South Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

RARELY seen in Hobart’s real estate market, this superbly presented, spacious family home, offers a country style of life across 8700sq m of land, but on Hobart city’s doorsteps — about 2.9km from the GPO.

The home has a flexible floorplan that caters for a large family, with options for working at home, too.

Formal and informal lounge areas, a large kitchen and family dining area, five bedrooms, three bathrooms — it ticks a lot of boxes effortlessly.

A parent’s retreat is attached to the main bedroom with walk-in wardrobes, an ensuite and built-in wardrobes.

Peaceful surrounds.

Family sized space.

Natural beauty.

Access to the upper deck is from the formal lounge, bringing the outside in, as well as from the family dining area and main bedroom. Each takes in glorious views.

The expanse of windows in the upstairs living areas provides spectacular sun from early morning to mid and late afternoon.

The bottom level deck provides a more secluded, tranquil entertainment area.

There is also a rumpus room, a large storage area with shelving and benched access under the house, a spacious garage including shelving for tools, and a separate storage area for wine.

Some of the extra bonuses that come with this great family home are the double glazed windows on the top floor, 4kW solar panels, plus a security system with sensors in several zones across both floors, which is currently monitored.

There is also a keyless and key front door entry.

Bathroom bliss.

Cook up a storm.

There are security screen doors on all single sliding screen doors and the downstairs bedroom windows have security screens attached.

There is ample carparking for guests, a storage room for a trailer and a garden shed.

When it is get-together time with family and friends, the wraparound sundecks will be the place to be.

South Hobart cafe, nearby schools, university and recreational spots all add to the enviable lifestyle.

The property borders on the Sandy Bay Rivulet where the sound of running water can put the owner in another world — how’s the peace and serenity?

For those that love nature, the property feels like a miniature forest with its plush greenery and visiting wildlife.

Light and bright.

View for days.

There is an enclosed area around the house for garden protection.

A 100 metres walk will take the owner to the beginning of the Pipeline Track, then the Waterworks Reserve and through Ferntree to Mount Wellington/kunyani.

This South Hobart acreage takes in views of the Derwent Estuary.

No.8B Romilly Street, South Hobart is listed with EIS Property at “Offers over $975,000”.

The post Vast block, glorious gardens rarely seen in the city appeared first on realestate.com.au.

This house at 47 Fisher Street, East Brisbane, sold at auction for $955,000.

A Brisbane couple who spent around $180,000 renovating their inner-city home, made $105,000 on their investment at auction on Saturday when their house sold for $955,000.

Heath and Mayra McGillivray bought 47 Fisher Street, East Brisbane in 2016 for $670,000 and built in underneath, adding two extra bedrooms and a rumpus downstairs while renovating the original part of the circa-1900 colonial cottage.

The renovated kitchen at 47 Fisher Street, East Brisbane.

“It’s a little sad,” Mr McGillivray said. “We were here for five years. Charles Warren Constructions did the renovation three years ago and we’ve invested a lot of time into it. But we’re glad it’s gone to another lovely couple.”

Seven registered bidders put in their best efforts to secure the 263sq m property at auction with Ray White auctioneer Haesley Cush leading what would be his 13th consecutive auction to sell under the hammer.

The crowd gathers before the auction.

“That just talks to what’s happening with our city at the moment,” Mr Cush told the auction crowd of around 40.

“It’s incredible value, with our borders closed at the moment we are fielding a heap of inquiries from interstate investors but with those restrictions in place it’s the locals who are enjoying the market today.

Ray White auctioneer Haesley Cush at 47 Fisher Street, East Brisbane.

“When I started working for mum — who’s here today — in 1996, we sold property with interest rates at 18 per cent, today I saw last week 1.99 per cent is the interest levels that you can get money at today. It’s a wonderful time for people to be involved in real estate … and we’ve got infrastructure coming. Queen’s Wharf is coming; the biggest facelift our city’s had since South Bank.

“Ready to start?”

A couple standing near a cactus in the front garden sprang into action first with an opening bid of $700,000 but they were soon overtaken by bidders from other parts of the garden who moved the auction in $25,000 lots until Ipswich doctor Charles Parsons slowed the pace with a $10,000 rise to $935,000.

“There was no strategy, I just wanted to hold off for a little while and get the lay of the land,” Dr Parsons said. “But there were a few little surprises there, like that phone bidder at the end.”

The phone bidder came into play as the auction passed $940,000 with Ray White Bulimba lead agent Scott Darwon confirming that the house had passed reserve and was on the market.

The renovated upstairs level at 47 Fisher Street, East Brisbane.

Dr Parsons, with his partner, radiographer Natasha Radbone and her parents in support, replied with $945,000 and then Mr Cush took what he thought was a $960,000 bid from the phone bidder.

“No, no, no,” came the reply, “$950,000.”

“That’s okay,” Mr Cush said. “ We always just assume more. Take the time.”

Dr Parsons replied with $955,000 and the auction paused.

“Wouldn’t it feel good to bring out that 60 now?” Mr Cush asked of the phone bidder. “Get that feeling back.”

But the moment had passed and the house sold to first-home buyers Charles Parsons and Natasha Radbone who will move from their Coorparoo rental.

Natasha Radbone and Charles Parsons meet the sellers of 47 Fisher Street, East Brisbane, Heath and Mayra McGillivray.

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Lots to love – 3 Milray Ave, Wollstonecraft.

Looking out over the rolling lawns, manicured gardens, sandstone terraces, pool and tennis court, you could be forgiven for thinking you were kicking back in the Southern Highlands.

You will need to pinch yourself, because you are actually less than 6km away from the Sydney CBD.

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It’s a few minutes’ drive outside peak time, and even quicker any time of the day on the train. Conveniently, the Wollstonecraft Train Station is just metres from the front gate, as well as the harbour foreshore and Berry Island Reserve.

The 1884sqm property at No. 3 Milray Ave is recognised as one of the largest landholdings in Wollstonecraft, and one of only a handful of homes in the area with a private tennis court.

The three-level home sits on a prime corner block on two titles, and has been meticulously and respectfully restored.

Summer ready.

Grand design.

The kitchen.

The renovation has recaptured the estate’s original character, and is topped off by wonderful landscaping that adds to the secluded and private feel of the property.

Easy living.

Dine outdoors in any weather.

Tennis anyone?

Geoff Smith and Bernard Ryan, of Ray White Lower North Shore, are marketing the property via expressions of interest, with a guide of $10.5 million.

“There’s nothing else like it, it’s one of very few big estates in Wollstonecraft and having the level lawn and the tennis court makes it a standout,” Mr Smith said.

“The house is in a really good spot on the block. It’s just got a really nice feel to it and it’s got very good family functionality.”

The pool.

There are multiple living spaces.

An aerial view.

The home has a big focus on outdoor living.

The chef’s grade kitchen melts into the dining room, family room and poolside terrace.

Inside, the home offers a range of formal and informal living and dining spaces, as well as a rumpus room on the lower level adjoining the home gym.

The main bedroom is a treat, and has a wraparound terrace with a view stretching from the Harbour Bridge across the city skyline to the Anzac Bridge and beyond, as well as a decadent ensuite and dressing room.

The property is for sale by expressions of interest, closing on or before 4pm, September 30.

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Architect Graham Birchall, who designed The Bubble House in Ipswich with his wife Sharon. Pic Peter Wallis

IT’S hard to find a naughty corner in a round house, even with 140,000 people looking.

When the Bubble House of Ipswich, with its series of 11 connected domes, became one of Australia’s most viewed properties on the market this year, it put quirky homes in the spotlight, and challenged homebuyers to think outside the square.

6 Autrey Court in suburban Stafford Heights has its own squash court. Picture: John Gass

“A home is about the people and what makes them comfortable,” First National Ipswich estate agent Helene Shephard said.

For Queensland architect Graham Birchall that has meant building a house out of concrete domes to support his university thesis on the building technique.

“I like them because they are so pure, there’s no hard joins,” Mr Birchall said. “They’re good for storm water, water just rolls off; there are no gutters and they’re very spacious; up here there’s no ceiling under 4m.”

Construction of 79 Elanora Way, Karalee, began in 1983 and took 10 years with Mr Birchall and his father-in-law Ed Bohl devoting every weekend to the job with a little maths help from some of the state’s brightest academic minds. NASA also was approached for inspiration to design aperture window coverings in the cantilever bathrooms that hang off larger domes, and plans to the Mars Rover arrived by post in case they were useful.

“They ended up not helping but it was good to get them,” Mr Birchall’s wife, Sharon, said.

The bubble house is one of only seven in the world and when it went on sale last month, an international frenzy was created that stretched from Vanuatu to Paris, with Ms Shephard receiving 100 calls a day in two weeks.

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“It’s only because of its uniqueness that it’s attracted such an intense amount of interest,” she said. “Other than that it’s really no different to any other campaign – you still have to find the right buyer.”

Curiosity should never be dismissed when selling quirky properties, Ray White Ascot’s Ian Cuneo said.

“It’s fine to come to have a look, even if you’re not intending to buy the property,” Mr Cuneo said. “I sold a two-bedroom house to a lady who wanted a six-bedroom home and afterwards I said, ‘Why?’ and she said, ‘I really liked the butterfly stairs’. And she just renovated after that. Never in my wildest dreams would I have rung her up (about the property) but she just fell in love with the interiors.”

In the north Brisbane suburb of Stafford Heights, a five level home at 6 Autry Court has been listed for sale with an indoor squash court, although during the COVID-19 lockdown, it did become a glorified play gym for owner Aeron Lin’s toddler. “We had four rooms on rotation during the lockdown and when we’d had enough of one room, we’d go to another. There’s lots of space in this house.”

There’s also a resort style 180,000 litre heated saltwater swimming pool, a floodlit championship size synthetic grass tennis court and an indoor/outdoor Feng Shui-style fish pond to give the 2039sq m block positive chi.

Chris Ball climbing on his rock-climbing wall at home. Photo: Mark Cranitch.

Across the river, Chris Ball is selling his Yeronga home at 22 Ellesmere Street that has a 5m high indoor boulder wall in the void facing the kitchen.

“When we renovated, the architect asked what was on our top 10 list,” Mr Ball said.

“The climbing wall sat at number three, behind the new master bedroom and the new kitchen downstairs. We climb socially and it didn’t really take much convincing for us to decide to put one in.”

The bulk of the wall is on a 30 degree angle while a lower portion is on a more gentle 15 degree angle where the kids’ holes are.

On the Sunshine Coast, Keith Murray has taken four historic train carriages and converted them into an eco-sanctuary at the bottom of Mount Tibrogargan in the Glass House Mountains where he has lived since 1982.

The 1.72ha property at 198 Barrs Road, Glass House Mountains, includes the 130-year-old Wivenhoe Pocket Presbyterian Church which took seven hours to transport to the new site and more than two years to assemble into a family home. Whoever buys the property will also inherit a boutique coffee plantation.

Coffee can also be found in one of the most unique properties to hit the market in Queensland, this one is in Tropical North Queensland.

Peter Marshall’s home is just 15 minutes from the shopping mall but in the wet season, 30 cubic metres of water a second can roar past his house on the edge of a waterfall, and there’s a free skyrail that can drop him a two-minute walk from his front door.

Barron Falls Estate is an almost 66ha site at the top of the Atherton Tablelands, with part of the land accessed by operators of the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which ferries tourists and locals from Kuranda to Cairns. The site also includes 50,000 coffee trees.

QUIRKS ARE PERKS

The Bubble House. Pic Peter Wallis

1. The Bubble House

79 Elanora Way, Karalee

Price: $1.7 million

Quirky feature: A house made completely out of concrete domes.

1015 Kennedy Highway, Kuranda

2. Barron Falls Estate

1015 Kennedy Highway, Kuranda

Price: Contact agent

Quirky feature: Live beside a waterfall with a skyrail that drops you to your front door.

Melanie Blin and Hugh Dao of Jensen Property play some squash at 6 Autry Court, Stafford heights. Picture, John Gass

3 6 Autry Court, Stafford Heights

Price: Offers over $3 million

Quirky feature: Indoor squash court.

22 Ellesmere St, Yeronga.

4. 22 Ellesmere St, Yeronga

Price: Offers over $989,000

Quirky feature: Internal boulder wall facing the living and kitchen areas.

507 Stafford Road, Stafford.

5. 507 Stafford Rd, Stafford

Price: Contact agent

Quirky feature: 1950s converted church with curved roof trusses, Silky Oak walls and leadlight windows.

198 Barrs Rd, Glass House Mountains

6. 198 Barrs Rd, Glass House Mountains

Price: $1.6 million-$1.8 million

Quirky feature: Four historic train carriages including a diving carriage and a Victorian-Era first-class carriage have been converted into self-contained accommodation with kitchen, bedroom, a library and lounge.

10 Aminya Street, Coochiemudlo Island.

7. The Quirky Cottage — Holy Cow

10 Aminya St, Coochiemudlo Island

Price: $265,000

Quirky feature: A former holiday rental that comes with its own custom-made cow-themed interiors so you can ‘moo-ve’ right in.

Knells

111 Moray Street, New Farm

8.111 Moray Street, New Farm

Price: Contact agent

Quirky feature: The dormers or roof windows of this Hansel and Gretel-inspired Old English manor.

455 Gregory Tce, Spring Hill.

9. Carrington Manor

445 Gregory Tce

Price: Offers over $3.2 million

Quirky feature: A preserved 1930s art deco building with ornate horse hair plaster ceiling on the top level.

563 Royal Esplanade, Manly

10. 563 Royal Esplanade, Manly

Price: Best offers around $1.7 million

Quirky feature: Use of billboards and raw building materials throughout the home including the staircase that spirals around the trunk of a tree.

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