High hopes for big-ticket sales in far North Queensland as borders reopen

A string of big-ticket sales set among the tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland has local agents confident momentum will carry through when borders reopen on Monday.

1190 Mossman-Daintree Rd, Rocky Point, is a rainforest-surrounded home with a near-private beach just north of Port Douglas. Picture: Ray White

A string of big-ticket sales among the tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland has local agents confident momentum will carry through after borders reopen on Monday.

Optimism is high from the mudflats of Cairns to the sands past Port Douglas as homes sell for more than $1m sight unseen with strong interstate interest in prestige homes above $2.5m.

One of the region’s top luxury agents, Barbara Wolveridge, said the past 12 months had been positive for the regional market.

“The market is going very well and we have some fabulous properties coming onto the market,” the Tropical North Queensland director at Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty said.

“People have stayed here and have decided to buy. Now their friends are coming up. Cairns is so underpriced.”

The Queensland government’s decision to move the border opening forward four days to Monday followed a weeks-long lead-upas double-dose vaccination rates approached 80 per cent. This allowed agents to plan, with many holding back properties in order to launch as southerners could finally conduct viewings.

Poolside view at 1190 Mossman-Daintree Rd, Rocky Point. Picture: Ray White

Ray White Port Douglas principal Mark Flinn said the agency had 13 auctions planned for the upcoming holiday season. While many of these properties were ready to list weeks or months ago, he believes this will give both sellers and buyers the best chance to make deals.

“The market was good but it has probably gotten better in the past few weeks,” Mr Flinn said.

“Normally we’d be sipping cocktails by the water at this time of year but we are going to be working. The problem is Port is so small an area that I’m not sure there is much high-end stock left to sell.”

One of these properties is a rainforest-surrounded home with a near-private beach just north of Port Douglas, set for auction onsite on December 22.

Originally built by “Mr Port Douglas” – 93-year-old local developer John Morris – in 2009, The Rock Point property offers luxury across three bedrooms set on 1.5ha. Seamless indoor to outdoor integration was a key consideration of the design, taking advantage of the panoramic views of the Coral Sea, Snapper Island and the Daintree Ranges.

Ms Wolveridge also hopes to have a few auctions this year, noting that while the frenzy being experienced in capital cities isn’t being replicated, most homes up north sell under the hammer or soon after.

The living room of 16-18 Stream Ave, Kewarra Beach.

She is currently in the process of marketing 16-18 Stream Ave, Kewarra Beach. Situated between Cairns and Palm Cove, the 10-bedroom property is perfect for entertaining and was designed for easy tropical living. The two-level living area is central to the design, with floor to ceiling windows framing views across the veranda to the swimming pool and a championship tennis court.

Reopening the borders could also mark good news for “Villa Hemingway” in Port Douglas, which has been on the market for several months waiting for its next owner.

Built at the turn of the century, the six-bedroom and seven-bathroom home has been retained by the same New Zealand family for the past 20 years.

Agent John Laplanche of Port Property, who is selling the property, expects $10m sales to be made in coming months

Originally published as High hopes for big-ticket sales in far North Queensland as borders reopen