Family and friends have paid tribute to building designer Chris Vandyke’s incredible talent, his contribution to the Australian industry and his laid-back nature.

Mulgrave MP and former Cairns mayor Terry James recalled his long-time friend’s talent, describing Mr Vandyke as a “quiet high-achiever” who he first crossed paths with more than 30 years ago.

“He was very laid-back, very unassuming and very talented,” Mr James said.

“I’ve known him since the early days, he was one of the pioneers of the building design industry in the Far North.

“When you see what he produced over the years and what he was capable of, it was clear why he was so sought-after, including by international clients.”

Born in Sydney into a Dutch family renowned for its contributions to the Australian home design and construction industy, Mr Vandyke’s life path was forged from a young age.

In the 1950s, the Vandykes were among the nation’s most successful home designers and builders, responsible for a large number of post-war houses.

During the early stages of his career, Mr Vandyke started designing houses in his hometown in the 1960s.

His passion for the ocean was the catalyst for his move to the sunshine state, where he set to work designing and building a trawler which he would go on to captain on the Great Barrier Reef for more than a decade.

The design he created for that boat is still used for many trawlers today.

Mr Vandyke founded Chris Vandyke Designs in 1989 and went on to conceive more than 600 of his trademark pole homes, along with resort buildings and educational facilities.

The natural landscape, namely the Far North’s tropical rainforest, was a key inspiration behind his work, along with a deep love and respect for Asian and Medierranean building design.

Mr Vandyke’s niece Sophie Barrett fondly recalled her years working alongside her uncle in the state’s Far North.

“I moved to Cairns in 2002, after completing my architecture degree and working in urban design, to work with Chris,” she said.

“I had heard a lot about my laid-back uncle, known for designing incredible homes in the tropics and rainforest.

“Over six years, I worked with him on numerous award-winning designs, visiting some of Australia’s most stunning locations, including Port Douglas, Mission Beach, Cairns and the Tablelands.

“A highlight was visiting the house he designed on Bedarra Island for photographer Peter Lik, which integrates large boulders into the house and bathroom design.”

Mr Vandyke also designed Coconut Beach Resort, Ferntree and Dragonfly at Cape Tribulation, as well as the original resort at Double Island.

His work extended to school buildings at Djarragun College and hundreds of pole homes and Asian-inspired tropical designs.

“You can see his pole houses on the hill at Smithfield or in the many houses he designed in the Rainforest Estate at Kamerunga,” Ms Barrett said.

“Real estate agents still use his name to sell homes.”

When Bush Tucker Man Les Hiddens put his Kuranda home on the market in 2020, one of the key selling points was a master wing extension designed by Mr Vandyke, featuring handcrafted New Guinea rosewood and silkwood.

A founding member of the Building Designers Association, Mr Vandyke was made a Fellow of the association in 2009 for his contributions to the industry.

He won more than 30 State and National Building Design Awards and his work is featured in numerous books and magazines.

Mr Vandyke leaves behind his wife, Kath Vandyke, and three children: Deborah Auchinachie, Inger Vandyke, and Keith Vandyke.

His legacy carries on through his children - Keith Vandyke is a master builder and award winner, who was awarded the 2023 National Master Builder Colorbond House of the Year for a house designed by Mark Granger who worked alongside Mr Vandyke for many years.

Inger Vandyke is a renowned wildlife photographer, photojournalist, and photography expedition leader, with work featured in Australian Geographic, while Deborah Auchinachie worked as a senior lawyer for ABC’s Four Corners and Australian Story.

Many of Mr Vandyke’s collaborators have maintained his tropical design legacy.

Matt Piromalli now runs Balay Vandyke, carrying on Mr Vandyke’s enduring tradition of tropical architecture.

Mr Vandyke died from multiple health complications on Thusday, February 20 on the Gold Coast.

A private funeral for family and friends will be held on Saturday, March 1 at Kingscliff.

sian.jeffries@news.com.au