Cliff face Dolphin Heads home for sale for first time in 30 years

A Mackay family paid just $37,000 three decades ago for the cliff face block that affords expansive views of the Coral Sea and now this exclusive property is on the market.

There aren’t too many homeowners who mow their rooftops, but that’s exactly what Louise Battersby and her family have done for the past 30 years.

“My son did it for a while before he went off to university, he said it was rather unique mowing the roof,” Ms Battersby said with a laugh.

She and her late husband Nick bought this parcel of land at Dolphin Heads in the mid-80s after returning from overseas.

These Dolphin Heads homeowners have to mow the lawn on their roof as well as their garden.

Back then the pair paid just $37,000 for the 3693 sq m cliff face block that affords panoramic views of the Coral Sea and is surrounded by nature.

“We wanted to build the perfect house on it. My husband had seen an earth-covered house somewhere along the line and that’s what he wanted, it was his dream,” she recalled.

After chatting to a couple who had a ‘partly covered’ house, Nick and Louise enlisted the services of architect Bruce Illman. He drew up the plans and by 1990 the couple were able to move into their four-bedroom home, a home that had been impeccably crafted and integrated into the sloping cliffside block.

From the sky, it’s almost hard to tell there’s a home under the grass roof.

“[When I was working] I used to come home from work and just sit and enjoy the views, it just sort of always calmed me down. You’ve got the wildlife around you, you’ve got the sea in front of you, it’s just peaceful and very relaxing,” Ms Battersby added.

She admitted that while it would be difficult to let the property go, she and her partner were intent on slowing things down, and managing two homes was not conducive to that.

They’ve recently given the oceanside gem a freshen up, readying it for its new owners.

“The kitchen and all the bathrooms have been totally renovated, it’s also been completely repainted inside and out and it’s got new blinds, lights,” noted Ms Battersby.

Every space in the home has plenty of light.

With as many as eight groups through just a day after the property was listed for sale, the retired former medical secretary is hopeful that whoever purchases this unique home will enjoy it for everything it stands for.

“Some of my most precious memories include sitting up in bed with a cup of tea and seeing a wallaby or echidna on the grass outside the window. The sunrises are pretty incredible too, every one of them is different.”

Views of the Coral Sea are unsurpassed.

Just a 20-minute drive from Mackay city, Dolphin Heads is one of the region’s most attractive enclaves given its natural surroundings.

“The only noise is the crashing waves,” Ms Battersby noted. “And while it does get windy up here, one thing’s for sure, you’ll never get blown away in a cyclone – this is a solid concrete block, it’s very safe.”

The home has perfectly manicured gardens too.

Price: Expressions of interest

Land: 3693sq m block with an additional double bay shed on a 2200sq m west-facing block

Features: Green roof, floor-to-ceiling windows, open plan, air conditioning, manicured gardens, outdoor courtyard, circular kitchen with an incredible C-shaped bench.

Agent: Benjamin Molineux and Jennifer Bailey of Baileux