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Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) Properties such as this newly-listed family home on a big block at 3 Sassafras Ct aren’t lasting long on Townsville’s affordable market As property prices continue to soar across the country almost 80 per cent of houses for sale in the Townsville region are listed for less than $600,000 and 90 per cent of units are in the same price bracket The latest PropTrack Home Price Index showed the national median house price jumped 4.55 per cent in the 12 months to September to sit at $821,000 the median house price was $1.365 million while in Melbourne it was $924,000 and in Brisbane it was $865,000 home prices increased 5.52 per cent in the 12 months to September and 2.16 per cent for the quarter to sit at $400,899 with a median house price of $406,163 and a median unit price of $334,934 But in good news for budget-conscious buyers PropTrack’s latest figures found 37.7 per cent of Townsville houses for sale on realestate.com.au were listed for less than $400,000 and 40.3 per cent were sitting in the $400,000 – $600,000 price bracket Pickings were slim for buyers with deeper pockets with 14.5 per cent of houses listed between $600,000 and $800,000 and 4.09 per cent for sale in $800,000 – $1 million bracket Just 3.41 per cent of houses were on the market for a seven-figure sum 78.05 per cent of properties were listed for sale for less than $400,000 13.86 per cent were on the market in the $400,000 – $600,000 bracket and 3.88 per cent were listed in the $600,000 – $800,000 bracket That left just 4.21 per cent of units with a listing price of more than $800,000 said there had been strong interest in the lower end of the Townsville property market “A lot of transactions are happening in the affordable range,” he said “Most well marketed and presented properties are selling around that two to three week mark.” locals and people relocating to Townsville were all competing in the low end of the market as buyers were priced out of other areas throughout Australia “Townsville is an affordable region that offers what I think is a very high level of amenity between health the ability to find a job and a good place to raise a family,” he said “Townsville seems to be on everybody’s list as a place to invest “As other markets throughout the country are becoming unaffordable and returns are diminishing … Townsville is looking super attractive “We are seeing high rental yields here and the vacancy rate is next to nothing.” Mr Keyes said in the last four months the Townsville market had also seen a resurgence in the $600,000-plus market “That speaks to the confidence in the market and the economy in general in Townsville,” he said “The high quality properties that come on are disappearing from the market quickly because buyers don’t have a lot of choice “There are a lot of punters in that section of the market so when something does become available TOWNSVILLE’S PROPERTY MARKET BY PRICE BRACKET third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. which will include a number of major national retailers Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville Followed categories will be added to My News Brisbane-based developer Marquette Properties will soon submit a development application to Townsville City Council to build the shopping complex on the corner of Mount Low Way and Lionel Turner Dr which will include a full-line Coles and 15 other stores There is an existing small convenience store on the site which will be redeveloped to include about 5000sq m of net lettable area and have a construction value of around $10 million Construction will begin later this year and be complete in mid-2016 Marquette Properties director Matthew Creagh said he expected to secure a number of big national retailers for the complex Mr Creagh said his company had been looking to invest in Townsville for a number of years “We like Townsville and know it reasonably well,” he said “I definitely think Townsville is in a good position and has continued to grow over the last five or six years when a lot of markets and cities haven’t “We take a lot of confidence in dealing with the Townsville City Council and dealing with the planning department was a great experience and the underlying fundamentals of Townsville are appealing.’’ “We’ve just looked at a couple of different projects in Townsville over the years – we’ve never done anything but that’s just more because the deals haven’t quite worked.” Regional economist Colin Dwyer said the population growth of the northern suburbs was demanding new developments but all proposals needed to stack up in terms of their feasibility “It’s a very positive move on Coles’ part that they have identified that as fast-growing area and it is a positive thing for the region,” Mr Dwyer said “It will bring in competition and better prices than are in the area and also localised jobs for people who want to live in that area “We would want to make sure that other businesses like the IGA are still viable .. but it is a vote of confidence for Townsville.” Townsville council’s new bin police are checking your recycling backed by nearly a quarter of a million dollars in state funding to crack down on yellow-lid contamination You’ve voted for the top 50 cutest toddlers in Townsville It may have been named Australia’s “Sh*t Town of 2022” but this major regional Queensland city has some cracking real estate at prices that will make cityslickers stuck in gridlock start frothing at the mouth was given the controversial title by satirical Facebook page ‘Sh*t Towns of Australia’ for the second year in a row registering more than twice the votes of its nearest competitor,” the announcement on the social media site said “This is Towntown’s second successive brown crown capping another successfully sh*t year for the Queensland craphole.” which is supposedly Australia’s sh*ttest town of 2022 Townsville secured 30 per cent of the vote ahead of Mount Druitt (14%) in NSW and Alice Springs (12.7%) Other towns to make the list included Port Pirie (SA) Rush hour traffic gridlock on busy Sydney main road the youth crime rate leaves a lot to be desired and there are murder logs (crocs) in some waterways ninja stingers at the beaches in summer and a mystery dome that often sits over the city and propels away rain on oppressivley hot days but there is also a lot to love about this often overlooked metropolis and a recent campaign pointed out some local “doppelgangers” that mimick other global destinations such as the Amazon (Hinchinbrook Channel) Peru (Wallaman Falls) and Texas (Charters Towers) Townsville is also the HQ for the Great Barrier Reef so offers heaps of diving opportunities and there are sailing adventures around a host of islands The stunning Great Barrier Reef off Townsville It is also home to the North Queenland Cowboys Townsville’s most expensive house sold in a secret deal for $6 million in 2021 That sprawling mansion has five bedrooms and five bathrooms over multiple levels with fantastic views over Magnetic Island and the Coral Sea For about that same price you can get a 220sq m unit in Sydney a massive Bushland Beach residence on a 1007sq m block that was listed between $2.5m and $2.99m is under offer A beachfront Rowes Bay residence is listed for sale by expressions of interest as is a residence high on the ridge in Townsville’s blue-chip suburb And a stunning CBD Balinese-inspired house is listed for $2.25m negotiable Under $2m gets you a holiday house on Magnetic Island or a brand new four-bedroom luxe residence in North Ward There is also restored Queenslanders in Belgian Gardens all available at prices that buyers interstate would fall over themselves to sign on the dotted line Herron Todd White Townsville valuer Hayden Lynam said the number of high-end sales in outer suburbs of the city had been surprising “The sale prices being achieved in these locations are at levels generally not seen outside the “This along with the level of increases still being experienced in rental rates are some of the surprises playing out in the current market “Inflation and increasing interest rates will continue to impact our market however Townsville has yet to see the significant market downtown that the major cities have recently experienced.” MORE NEWS: Forget the man cave! This Qld house has a man shed Behind the scenes of Netflix hit show Irreverent is a Qld treasure Sold: 33 bids for rundown cottage in Townsville CBD So its controversial title doesn’t appear to be deterring the big sales and the low vacancy rates suggest there is no great flow out of the garrison city The latest Canstar Rising Stars 2023 report also pinpoints Kirwan as a suburb to watch in the new year And it would seem there are plenty of supporters of The Ville “Townsville is home and I’m more than proud to join the throngs in congratulating us all on another sh*t win Looking good for 3 in a row,” said one follower of the Facebook page While another said: “I am happy for everyone to think its sh*t here then they won’t move here… Ray White’s Julie Mahoney summed it up best saying she had done five inspections within 24 hours taken calls from a buyer wanting to move from Canada and from an investor looking to buy with the plan to move back at a later date “I have travelled the globe and moved my family back here to raise my kids,” she said Ten homes with 30 bedrooms all up have hit the market in a beach suburb in one of the most amazing listings this year Giant skate bowl home sold for millions Conditions now best in history for first homebuyers The Bushland Beach complex is one street back from the ocean The homes are one street back from the beach and the owners – from a local family business – will let the lot go in a single deal priced at $3.1m negotiable All up the property has a whopping 30 bedrooms 17 car spaces and is on a 2,622sq m piece of land The townhouses have been tenanted at up to $350 a week each Agents Sibby and Lucy Di Bartolo of John Gribbin Realty listed 1-10/32 Pacific Avenue in Bushland Beach as “an outstanding and rare opportunity to secure an entire block of townhouses in a popular beach suburb” the pair has not seen anything like this deal hit the market “Not in that location,” Mr Di Bartolo said and the other four face the other side of the complex But they are one street away from the ocean.” each townhouse has its own private access off the road straight into a courtyard “The thing too is those houses along the beach are big homes and good quality homes so it’s very unusual to find a complex like that built in that location with those quality of homes.” and had been freshened up for sale with rentals managed by his firm since they were built “John Gribbin has been managing the properties since they were new They’ve always been tenanted because of the location and really there’s nothing around there that’s like it.” Each of the townhouses fetch rent of up to $350 a week “For the astute investor looking for a great residential investment in a popular location this could be one of the best opportunities you will see this year,” was how the firm listed the property on realestate.com.au “We’ve had quite a bit of interest,” Mr Di Bartolo said “but most of that interest has been out of town or interstate It’s been on the market for a little while but we had some local investors that have had a look at it but most of the interest has been down south.” He said there was a lot to the property considering the price tag “The family who built them put Smeg appliances the quality of fittings are very good and the other thing is they are a good-sized townhouse at about 166sq m each.” The townhouses follow an open plan for living space “The good thing about them is they are on a corner block and they have two access points into the complex Each unit has their own private courtyard and so you can enter from the road as well.” “Some of the visitor carparks are under cover The kitchens have Smeg appliances and illuminated display cupboards high quality kitchen with Smeg appliances and illuminated display case and a generous master bedroom with walk-in robe and ensuite The property has Crimsafe on doors and windows and there’s also a pool in the complex for residents to use FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON FACEBOOK A CAR has been destroyed by fire in the Bushland Beach Coles carpark Firefighters were called to the scene just after 10.45am to reports of one vehicle engulfed in flames The vehicle was parked in close proximity to the building but the extent of the damage is not yet known Thick black smoke was billowing from the vehicles as firefighters attempted to control the fire police and paramedics all attended the scene No injuries have been reported and it’s understood no one was in the vehicle when it caught alight The store was evacuated but reopened around 12.15pm It is not yet known exactly how the fire started Arguably one of Townsville’s biggest homes has hit the market and it is more than four times the size of the average Aussie home Located high on a hill at Bushland Beach, 29 Britomart St has been listed with a price tag of between $2.5 million and $2.99 million it will easily surpass the previous suburb record of $1.95 million which was set by a beachfront house back in 2014 MORE NEWS: New housing development for iconic QLD tourism mecca Popular Otto’s market sees 24 per cent price jump in three years Inside the $29m Qld mansion for rent for $10,000 a week who is marketing the tri-level modern mansion said the sprawling residence was owned by Nadia and Keith Moulds “They have moved to New Zealand,” Mr McDonough said “It took nine weeks to move everything out Spanning 1000sq m under roof – the average Aussie home is 235sq m – the residence features five bedrooms “We were drawn to Bushland Beach for the tranquillity and amazing ocean views that look over Magnetic Island and on a clear day The owners of the residence designed and built the property 12 years ago Starting on the top floor of the three-level residence – with each floor accessible by lift – is where you will find three bedrooms each with private ensuites and walk-in robes It is also on this level that you find the luxurious master suite freestanding bath and spectacular water views from the Juliette-style balcony There is also an office with a private veranda and a second large patio with a space to dine and take in the views The lower level has been designed with entertaining and relaxed living in mind with the central kitchen including Miele appliances and an extensive amount of smart storage options Engineered stone benchtops and a breakfast bar finish this space Also on this floor is a formal dining room that overlooks a rock feature garden at the entrance to the home the uber cool living area that flows out on to the lower level patio a split level movie theatre room with a bar The ground level of the house is home to the six-vehicle garage and wash bay pool and an integrated BBQ with built-in wine fridge and separate modern outdoor bathroom Other features in the residence include a gas fireplace Mr McDonough likened the residence to something you would see in the Hollywood Hills He said that when he first walked in and took in the views “If this was on Castle Hill it would be $6 million adding that there were plenty of buyers with $2m-plus circling the Townsville market “And we put a price tag on it as we aren’t here to muck around.” SOME of Townsville’s flood-affected suburbs have seen a resurgence in buyer demand with interest up 96.7 per cent in one of the most impacted suburbs Exclusive data from realestate.com.au shows that Hermit Park which is known for its good school catchments and charming Queenslander homes has seen the biggest year-on-year growth in demand with its median sales price reflecting the renewed interest from buyers Thirty-four houses and 25 units have changed hands in the tightly-held suburb over the past 12 months with the median sales price for houses up 22.8 per cent in three months to $316,500 the median house sales price has increased 4.2 per cent according to the REA Market Trends report for August But the data shows median house prices in Hermit Park still have some ground to make up on its 10-year median sales price of $389,000 Ray White’s Julie Mahoney is marketing a Queenslander packed with period features at 47 Ackers Street in Hermit Park She said many of the flood-affected suburbs were “off-the-market” for a few months after the unprecedented 2019 inundation which was caused by a tropical low that parked itself over the region flash flooding and forced the complete opening of the Ross Dam spillway But buyers were now being drawn back to these suburbs It has got some great school zones and the houses are divine and full of character,” Ms Mahoney said “Just recently (September 1) we sold one on Carmody Street at auction with eight registered bidders.” another suburb affected by the extreme weather event The realestate.com.au data shows year-on-year buyer demand in Idalia is up 81.5 per cent Median house prices slumped 9.9 per cent over the 12 months to August but the suburb recorded a 3.3 per cent increase in prices in the past three months to $410,000 the median house sales price in Idalia was $530,000 who has a number of listed properties in Idalia said the appetite for quality houses in Idalia “has been fantastic” “I have achieved roughly pre-flood valuations in a number of price points in Idalia,” he said “Buyers are asking lots of questions (about the impact of the floods) but they are also seeing the chance to buy a well-finished property in a nice suburb close to the city one they may not have been able to afford to buy into a few years ago.” Aerial damage of Idalia from a helicopter during the 2019 floods Mr Keyes said he recently sold a lakefront house in Idalia for $760,000 – the highest price achieved so far in Idalia post-flood “It was snapped up by a family who experienced the floods in an older suburb,” he said and asking questions around whether properties were flood-affected before the dam was released “The general attitude seems to be that the weather event was a freakish one compounded by the management of the dam and that is something buyers are prepared to wear that they believe that won’t be stuffed up again.” Keyes and Co Property Director Damien Keyes Railway Estate has seen a 42 per cent increase in demand Thirty houses have sold in the past 12 months with the inner-city suburb recording a 12-month median sales price increase of 3.9 per cent to $296,250 REA chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the recovery in affected suburbs was not dissimilar to other areas affected by natural disasters She said the mining recovery in the region was also bolstering the market buyers come back because these events often happen in desirable areas,” she said “We see a short-term dip (in values) but they almost always come back up “We saw it after the Brisbane floods (2011) with all those affected areas now recording values well above what they did pre-flood “You look at places like Florida (USA) which experiences hurricanes but people keep building there “Buyers make adjustments for risk and desirability.” Flooding between Bushland Beach to Deeragun - February 2 Airbnb hosts in North Queensland converged at a newly-listed luxury Bushland Beach mansion to share valuable advice for new hosts POSITIONED  in one of the most picturesque spots in Bushland Beach this commanding home has 180-degree ocean views The newly constructed two-storey house has four bedrooms two bathrooms and sits on 773sq m of land on the foreshore of Bushland Beach in the new Dunes estate Dunes property developer Allan Hansen said he decided to build a house rather than sell the vacant land so buyers didn’t have to go through the hassle of building “Nine out of 10 people will decide what they want but they just can’t go through the hassle with builders,” Mr Hansen said “It’s got great views and has been built so you can put a pool or a shed or anything else you want beside it “The house is really roomy and has ocean views all the way out to the islands.” Mr Hansen spent $1 million building a rockwall at the front of the Dunes development creating the only oceanfront land in Bushland Beach that is protected from erosion The home was built by Glenn Sexton Constructions and uses high-quality fittings fixtures and finishes to give the home a truly luxurious feel Listing agent Julie Munro from Ray White Townsville said the rockwall created the opportunity to make the dream of living by the beach come true for potential buyers “It really is a phenomenal piece of infrastructure and it’s the only section of Bushland Beach that has the protection of the rockwall,” Mrs Munro said “I think the whole Dunes estate is absolutely delightful and it’s one way in and one way out “It’s a tiny community and all owner occupiers.” Mrs Munro said the home made the most of its beachside location “It’s been built specifically for the views so both levels have amazing views,” she said “It has a neutral colour scheme so anything and everything will go.” The large open plan living and dining space surrounds a well appointed kitchen complete with a study nook The house is fully airconditioned while glass doors windows and louvres allow for ocean breezes to flow through the home Up the timber staircase is a huge master bedroom that flows out onto the balcony complete with walk-in robe and ensuite Police recovered the body of the 46-year-old in bushland near Cabarita Beach two days after he was last seen The body of the former Socceroo Stephen Laybutt has been found in bushland on the New South Wales north coast after an extensive search The 46-year-old was last seen in Casuarina on Friday evening and was reported missing after he could not be located and contacted His body was found in bushland near Cabarita Beach on Sunday evening after an extensive search conducted by officers attached to Tweed/Byron police district Police said the circumstances around his death were not being treated as suspicious with a report due to be prepared for the coroner Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Laybutt represented the Socceroos 15 times between 2000 and 2004 He played for J-League side Bellmare Hiratsuka as well as A-League side Newcastle Jets He also represented Australia at the 2000 Olympics Laybutt also worked in the rehab unit of St Vincent’s Private hospital in Sydney and donated a kidney to a patient on dialysis Various former teammates and associations have paid tribute to the defender Stephen Laybutt playing for the Australian Olyroos against Kuwait at Olympic Park, Melbourne in 2000. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesJames Johnson, the CEO of Football Australia said Laybutt’s contributions to the Socceroos left a “lasting legacy on the football community” “We remember Stephen not just for his accomplishments on the field but also for his character and the positive influence he had on those around him “He will forever be remembered as part of the Socceroos family and will be deeply missed Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.” added that Laybutt’s passing was a “profound loss” for the football community “Stephen represented the very best of Australian football – talent His memorable performances for the Socceroos and his significant role in pivotal victories will forever be etched in the annals of our football history.” Football NSW said it was “saddened to the hear the news of the tragic passing of former Socceroo and ex-Wollongong Wolves Football Club and Sydney Olympic FC defender Stephen Laybutt” “The former AIS graduate was known as one of the toughest defenders in the league and always played with his heart on his sleeve Free daily newsletterOur Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters “Football NSW wishes to send its deepest condolences to the Laybutt family.” The Newcastle Jets said in a statement they were “deeply saddened” to learn the news was a member of the Newcastle Jets squad during the 2007-08 season and made 10 appearances for the club “Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time.” The Former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire also paid tribute to Laybutt on Instagram The Newcastle Jets supporters club posted a tribute to Laybutt on Facebook Former Championship winner Stephen Laybutt has passed away,” the club wrote A Townsville woman is turning heads as the new resident on the block in her quirky home PERSONALITY rather than experience is the key to winning work at Domino’s Townsville pizza franchisee Nathan van Jole says Don't miss out on the headlines from Business PERSONALITY rather than experience is the key to winning work at Domino’s Mr van Jole was commenting after they “got hammered” by applicants attending the hiring day for their new store at the Bushland Beach shopping centre at the weekend A total of 28 people were signed up from more than 120 applicants Asked what was their most important selection criteria Mr van Jole said being available and people having personality and confidence it’s very much about (applicants having) energy and attitude more than anything else,” Mr van Jole said “How they respond is more important than the content of what they are saying.” they could hold a conversation and were keen to learn Mr van Jole said he did not seek people with experience and preferred to train people Mostly they hired people aged between 15 and 24 but one of their delivery drivers was aged 71 and was one of their best team members The Bushland Beach store will operate in shops previously occupied by IGA Mr van Jole started working for Domino’s 15 years ago as a delivery driver while studying at university and is now opening his seventh Domino’s store But it will be his third store which he will operate with business partner Mandie Hales “Mandie started working as a store manager in my store network five years ago and we have since become franchisee partners in the Domino’s North Shore and Mount Louisa stores and now Bushland Beach,” Mr van Jole said hands-on franchisee who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and The new store will feature fast bake ovens It is hoped to open before the end of the month Home loans with longer interest-only periods are appearing in Australia as housing costs climb Investors made jaw-dropping gains in big tech and Bitcoin in the past decade Real opportunities lie in areas no one is talking about yet VACANT blocks that have sat on the market for months are now being snapped up across Townsville as buyers desperately seek out land to build a new home With reports of waitlists for vacant land in some residential estates buyers are turning to infill blocks in established suburbs according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) Month in Review report “Agents are reporting that infill blocks within established suburbs that had seen little demand over the past few years have been snapped up as the volume of readily available land diminishes,” the report revealed a 1924sq m block at Bushland Beach sold for $190,000 on September 30 after languishing on the market for 436 days while another 704sq m block in the same suburb sold for $150,000 after 281 days on the market a 587sq m block that was on the market for 414 days sold on September 23 a 1057sq m block sold on September 18 after being on the market for a whopping 707 days an 830sq m block of land in sought-after North Ward sold for $195,000 in just 29 days But blocks in sought-after suburbs like this one at North Ward are still selling a lightning speed Ray White Geaney Property Group agent Sean Breitkreutz said both had sat of the market “for ages and ages” and then “bang “I would say one in three buyers at the moment are now from outside of Townsville,” he said and particularly with Sydney and Melbourne they seem to want to get out of those major centres.” bought a large block at Bushland Beach after searching for the right block for six months The HTW report said that the demand for vacant land both for infill blocks and housing estate land had surged on the back of government incentives with many of the larger developers pushing forward with new land releases to meet the demand and time frame requirements of the builder’s grants New home buyers are being wooed into the property market with federal and state government cash incentives including the HomeBuilders grant of $25,000 the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) grant of $15,000 and the Regional Builder’s Boost of $5000 after the purchase or construction of a new home The grants mean a first homebuyer could receive up to $45,000 to build a new home but even those who don’t qualify for the FHOG can apply for the HomeBuilder incentive bought the larger of the two Bushland Beach blocks They were not eligible for the grants but said the price was right “Five years ago we probably could not have afforded to but in Bushland Beach,” Sarah said We got the view we wanted at the right price.” The 1924sq m block at Bushland Beach bought by Sarah and Hendrika But HTW North Queensland managing director Darren Robins warned the rush on sales and construction could be short-lived “While this sector of the market is currently very active there are concerns about the longevity and sustainability of the demand for land and construction once these additional grants expire,” he said revealed demand for vacant land was often outstripping supply with some developments reporting waitlists for blocks especially in the more affordable first homebuyer size categories Mendi Group managing director Jeff Doyle said the government grants were building confidence and momentum in Townsville but warned the generous incentives would be just a “sugar hit” if they weren’t extended until the end of the financial year Master Builders Townsville regional manager Emma Peters revealed there had been a 980 per cent increase in the number of land sales reported by one developer alone She said the number of people going through local display villages had “exploded” on the back of the HomeBuilder grant announcement after several years of “very low” residential construction across the city The HomeBuilder grant is scheduled to cease on December 31 but industry heavyweights are calling for it to be extended A man has been charged over the death of a beloved Bushland Beach baseball player who died in a crash earlier this year but a Townsville mum is keeping her dog’s memory alive in a special way that will see more paw prints in the sand indoorsSamantha Healy in Queensland it is all about the great outdoors And some properties have totally nailed the floorplan blurring the lines between the indoors and outdoors Here we take a look at five of the best homes for lifestyle living This house quite literally is being marketed as “the ultimate home for Townsville’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle” a huge garage and plenty of space for a caravan or reef boat It has two downstairs guestrooms with access to their own bathroom an immense living area including a kitchenette The games room has amazing views but is also protected by automatic storm shutters plus a servery window from the modern kitchen The third level is home to the parents’ retreat a massive living area featuring floor to ceiling windows with views to Hinchinbrook Island and a private deck off the master bedroom The view from the pool at 4 Mount Elliott Drive this stunning rural retreat has views to envy Located at the end of a meandering concrete driveway designer house has a seriously impressive 120sq m deck and infinity pool with mountain and bush views a master bedroom with an ensuite that includes a two-way three additional bedrooms and huge three-bay shed The ensuite has an indoor shower and access to the outdoor shower This resort-style house sits on 0.43 hectares and has been designed “purely for comfort and entertainment in the tropics” And it is the outside features that really capture the North Queensland lifestyle a massive outdoor and covered barbecue and bar entertainment area Western Australian Jarra hardwood benchtops and New Guinea Rosewood cupboard doors An impressive feature of the main living area is the high ceilings exposed timber beams and lined woven bamboo and the large Iron Bark pole this four bedroom acreage retreat has been described as a “contemporary masterpiece” and took out the Best Individual Home category at the 2014 Master Builders Awards It has 365sq m of living space under roof and sits on an undulating block with mountain and valley views There is also a 4-bay shed to store a caravan or boat it has soaring ceilings in the main living areas a huge walk-in wardrobe and a luxurious ensuite It has a main deck that leads to the in-ground concrete pool From here you can also access the terraced lawn via a timber bridge/walkway This spectacular house has multifunctional living zones and outdoor spaces that have been designed to connect with the outside environment Its layout has been designed to maximise cross-ventilation There are four bedrooms including a main bedroom with a walk-in robe there is also a cleverly designed integrated home office polished timber floors plus large banks of louvres big windows and expansive openings to bring the great outdoors the property is just moments from the Castle Hill walking tracks and just minutes from North Ward and The Strand Vandalism has caused a large internet drop out in Mount Low along with the help of Builder Darren Finlay have built a home out of shipping containers in Bushland Beach A TOWNSVILLE builder has raised the bar in design creating the region’s first residential shipping container home The unique Bushland Beach property comprises five shipping containers which have been placed to create the overall shape and deliver space comparable to a regular home who unveiled the final product to first homebuyers Nigel and Kirsten Hassle last month said the property was one-of-a-kind in the region Bedrooms and bathrooms are connected by a large corridor purposely designed as an additional living and play area for the family “We got the containers from Tropical Containers in South Townsville who operate as a customs agent so they bring these containers in from all over the world,” Mr Finlay said “The containers … probably would have travelled around the world a few times which in itself adds character to the home “It was important to the owners that the containers still feel and look like containers after we were finished but at the same time work effectively in this tropical environment “That means being able to withstand a cyclone The main living space and TV wall made from recycled timber the two-level home overlooks Magnetic Island’s West Point with four containers forming the upper level The upper level includes all main living spaces and dining and living space that connects to a large timber deck The original container doors still remain as window shutters and will be ideal during cyclone season A ground-level container serves as storage and a parking bay and can be accessed through a covered outdoor timber staircase that also leads to the front recycled container door Is this Townsville’s most solid front door The containers’ original wooden plank flooring has also been retained having been sanded and polished to reveal a robust industrial look that suits the home perfectly “Having the original container means we don’t have to be too precious with them which is something you generally tend to worry about with new homes You want everything to last and look new for as long as possible,” Ms Hassle said “It’s certainly something different for a first home but we just love it and are already planning our next one.” An externs timber staircase connects the ground and upper levels were a cost-effective option compared to standard ­construction “Overall maintenance is also pretty low as long as the main surfaces are coated to protect containers from environmental influences such as salt from the ocean,” he said Paramedics have rushed to a crash between cars and a bus north of Townsville this afternoon A Bushland Beach man was hauled into court over a yacht he gave to his mother It’s been a major ‘fall from grace’ for the bankrupt businessman QUEENSLAND may have more than 13,000km of coastline but when it comes to luxury beachside real estate you need to get in quick to secure a piece of paradise on the sand but The Courier-Mail has done the hard work for you and found 10 of the best beachside homes on the market right now Inside the beachfront house at 17 Hedges Ave Gold Coast real estate agent Amir Mian of Amir Prestige has three beachfront houses for sale where you can watch the waves roll in from the main ensuite bathtub Hamilton Island has a heavenly holiday home with uninterrupted sea views from the crest of One Tree Hill a sprawling estate with Balinese-inspired villa 10 OF THE BEST BEACHSIDE HOMES ON THE MARKET IN QLD Even the bathroom has ocean views at 17 Hedges Ave You can sit in your bathtub and watch the waves roll onto Mermaid Beach from this Gold Coast mansion eight-bathroom property is on a beachfront corner block on the iconic millionaires’ row MORE PROPERTY NEWS: Hot market could see Qld beach mansion fetch fivefold price rise Secluded sanctuary at Clifton Beach master suite with dedicated accessories closet The home is going under the hammer on Tuesday January 24 at 5pm and is being marketed by Amir Mian or Amir Prestige Group This luxury estate encompasses an eight-bedroom cyclone-proof mansion pond and an eight car garage all on a 3,298sqm beachfront block The home is set across two levels and has an 8m domed ceiling and glass atrium in the foyer There are multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces a guest suite with kitchen and a master suite with private terrace walk-through robes and ensuite with spa bath Marketing agent Michael Bacon of Place Kanagroo Point is inviting all offers on the property Step straight from your deck onto the sand from your home at 11 Key Court this coastal property has 16m of water frontage with a white sand beach and a shared hardwood jetty waterside entertaining space and a resort-style pool Noosa National park and the bustling Hastings St while boaties have easy access to Noosa River The property is going to auction on Friday January 27 at 11am and is being marketed by Petar Markanovic of Markanovic Real Estate sand — The Loft offers an enviable lifestyle and a luxurious home in a gated residential estate The four-bedroom home was inspired by the classic Australian beach shack and features timber indoor-outdoor living and a bushland setting The home is on a 2533 sqm block while the estate facilities includes two infinity pools overlooking the ocean children’s wading pool and private access to four beaches The property is for sale for offers over $2m through Gordon Christian of PRD Agnes Waters Tradewinds is a 4356 sqm property perched on the crest of Hamilton Island’s iconic One Tree Hill and has uninterrupted sea views The main residence features hardwood timber high ceilings and generous indoor and outdoor living spaces The property also has an infinity pool with sea views Tradewinds is for sale for $9m through Andy Cam of PRD Whitsunday This Balinese style villa is on a 2.22ha estate with private beach six-bedroom home features hand carved timber 10,000l aquarium and ballroom with cathedral ceilings and fireplace The estate is for sale via expressions of interest and is being marketed by Claire Dai of Kollosche Broadbeach The pool and outdoor entertaining area at the house at 44 Waterview Drive Casa Del Mare is an award winning architecturally designed home on the beach just north of Townsville The five-bedroom house sits on a 1101 sqm block and has multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces including a home theatre a poolside deck and double-height formal lounge established landscaping and even a custom built doghouse The property is for sale for $1.495m through Jodi Westcott of Page and Pearce Townsville Imagine having this as your view from 97 Bishop Rd Stroll out the back door and onto the sand from this four-bedroom home with indoor pool in the small seaside town of Beachmere The 4823 sqm property includes an outdoor cinema space The house has a wraparound veranda downstairs The property is going to auction on Saturday February 4 at 10am and is being marketed by Rebecca Matthews of Ray White Newport This Far North Queensland house won Queensland Home of the Year in 2007 is being marketed by Caroline Yarr of Sothebys International Realty Queensland for $4,500,000 this tropical property is on the beach between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest The 2432 sqm estate includes a resort style home with high ceilings The main house is set across two levels and has three bedrooms an office and a gym while a guest house has two bedrooms The property is for sale for offers over $3.8m through Caroline Yarr of Sotheby’s Port Douglas this three-level home was designed by award-winning architect Carlo Amerio seven bathrooms and parking for five cars along with outdoor spaces on all three floors outdoor kitchen area and a master suite with sea views and private balcony feature lighting and high ceilings feature throughout The home is right on Trinity Beach and close to restaurants The property is being market by Michael Bacon of Place Kangaroo Point Passionate fans lined The Strand for the chance to get an autograph from their favourite Supercars drivers Pandora Dewan is a Senior Science Reporter at Newsweek based in London Pandora joined Newsweek in 2022 and previously worked as the Head of Content for the climate change education start-up ClimateScience and as a Freelance writer for content creators such as Dr She is a graduate in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford You can get in touch with Pandora by emailing p.dewan@newsweek.com or on Twitter @dewanpandora either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content had a scaley surprise when they walked into their hallway on Thursday evening to find an 8-foot coastal carpet python staring back at them The wife ran outside while her husband called local snake catcher, Jeremy De Haan of Jeremy's Reptile Relocations Townsville "This snake was believed to have entered the house through the roof climbing down into the house via an exposed ceiling fitting in the kitchen," De Haan told Newsweek The python did not move for the entire duration of De Haan's drive to the property "It stayed in the hallway of the house in the same laying position," he said gentle tail grab and straight into my catch bag," De Haan said "From me grabbing snake to it being secured in bag was under five seconds." Coastal carpet pythons are a subspecies of carpet python that can be found mostly along the east coast of Australia named for the carpet-like camouflage on their scales according to the Queensland Department of Environment and Science The species is non-venomous and instead kills prey by constriction. They hunt by ambush and use heat-sensitive organs on their lower jaw to track down the body heat of other animals, such as rodents, birds and possums carpet pythons play an important role in their local ecosystem keeping populations of rats and mice in check De Haan said that the species is typically fairly placid and rarely poses a threat to humans However, "nasty bites can take place for those trying to catch De Haan shared a photo of the snake to his Facebook page in a post that has received hundreds of likes and comments The python was released a few kilometers away from the couple's house in some nearby bushland Do you have an animal or nature story to share with Newsweek? Do you have a question about snakes? Let us know via nature@newsweek.com Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all