10 priciest streets in Far North Queensland
Research reveals the most exclusive 10 addresses in the region based on median price – and there’s some surprises on the list. SEE WHERE THEY ARE
Cairns
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A LIST of the 10 most expensive streets in the Far North has generated hot debate among leading real estate luminaries - but for the resident of one street, it’s a no-brainer.
Master builder Nathan Verri, his wife Julie and their sons Logan, 10, and Ari, 8, live in a stunning Federation-style home called Iluka by the Sea, on Kewarra St.
He said the kids loved playing soccer, swimming, fishing and exploring the sand bars at low tide.
“We are super fortunate to live in Kewarra and along Kewarra St,” Mr Verri said.
“It literally can’t get much better - Kewarra it is a safe and friendly community, we love that we have a leash free dog beach.
“The foreshore has a residential base and is not being overcommercialised like some of the other beaches,” he said.
“The beach itself is an absolute untapped treasure as its geography allows it to have shade under trees all day and in the afternoon still sunlight and minimal shading so you don’t get cold on those chilly days, especially of late,” Mr Verri said.
“Taylor Point headland also protects us from the south-easterly winds so it’s always comfortable to sit and enjoy the sun, sand and ocean.
Undoubtedly the most expensive individual property sale in recent times is $8,250,000 for 1-3 Wharf St, Port Douglas, the former home of John and Marillyn Morris.
But Wharf St does not appear on the list.
The second highest price for the Far North was about $8m paid by Cotton On Group part-owner Ash Hardwick for Villa Be at Lugger Bay, an exclusive gated enclave.
The longest-standing prestige listing in the region remains 9 Colonel Cummings Dr, Palm Cove, which has been on the market since June 2019 and now has a revised price guide of $7.1m to $7.5m – it was originally listed for $8m.
Colonel Cummings Dr is not on the list either.
Ray White economist William Clark said the most expensive addresses either had direct access to the beach, or were elevated with views.
Here are the top 10 most expensive addresses – and what those in the know have to say about them.
Solander Boulevard, Port Douglas
Property sales have been brisk with 2 Solander sold for $3.05m, 6 Solander sold for $2.5m July, 8 Solander for $1.925m, 25 Solander sold for $1.8m and 17 Solander sold for $1.8m in the past 12 months.
But the doyen of luxury properties in the Far North, Sotheby’s director Barbara Wolveridge, said Wharf St deserved the crown.
“Wharf St is a very small street, the premier street by far, right on the ocean, and there’s not a property there under $6m,” Mrs Wolveridge said.
“The number one street in all of the Far North would be Wharf St.”
She cited recent sale prices being $8.25m, $7.8m, $6.8m and $5.35m.
Properties at Island Point Rd are in the elite bracket too, with Otto Buttula, one of the pioneers of boutique fund management, spending $5.75m on a home there, while The Glass House on Island Point Rd sold for $6.125m.
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Mrs Wolveridge conceded Solander was only 60m from the beach.
“The land was more expensive to purchase there in the first place which of course meant more exciting houses were built there,” she said.
Moore St, Trinity Beach
There aren’t many homes on the beachfront, Vasey Esplanade, and strong demand for this address one block back.
Ray White Cairns Beaches principal Paul Stirling said many prestige homes had water views.
“There’s also been a number of strong apartment sales, particularly in the Vue and Belleview complexes – while the apartments front the Coral Sea, their street address is Moore St,” Mr Stirling said.
The street’s top prices are $1.75m for 108 Moore St in 2006 and the same figure for 20 Moore St in 2017.
James Cook Drive, Kewarra Beach
Demand for large blocks in a low density residential area is robust and this street on the western side of the Captain Cook Highway is characterised by very big blocks.
It is also very tightly-held.
Last August, 30-32 James Cook sold for $1.94m.
Mr Stirling said James Cook Drive offered acreage property with an abundance of quality homes.
“The migration of people from interstate has boosted all near beach locations, which are highly prized in southern cities,” Mr Stirling said.
Kewarra St, Kewarra Beach
This one is no surprise, and it is another address that tends to be tightly-held.
Sotheby’s has the stunning Astoria House on the market for $6.8m.
The record price for the beachfront street is $4.5m paid by Alex Sekler in 2014 for 46-48 Kewarra St – it is understood the property is about to go on the market again with a price tag closer to $12m.
“It is a lovely big wide street, and properties looking toward beach are as lovely as anything, there’s a park in front and a walking track and then the beach, it’s as good as it gets,” Mrs Wolveridge said.
“All the properties facing the beach would be worth between $4m to $10m.”
Harbour Drive, Trinity Park
The palatial home at 79 Harbour Drive on the market for $1.8m and 124 Harbour Drive has a price tag of $1.6m – the highest recorded price is $2.95m paid by Tablelands growers Michael and Lisa Lankester last February.
But FNQ Hot Property’s Nathan Shingles argued strongly that Ragamuffin Quay and Apollo Quay in the prestigious Bluewater Harbour Estate should rate higher than Harbour Drive.
He sold a property at Brindabella for $2.5m and one at Ragamuffin for the same price.
“Ragamuffin, Brindabella and Apollo are all waterfront properties so would be a lot higher than Harbour Drive,” Mr Shingles said.
Mowbray River Rd, Mowbray
This surprise entrant in the top 10 is one of the Far North’s best kept secrets – a rural enclave just 10 minutes from Port Douglas.
“Mowbray Valley is a lovely place to live, rural but close to Port Douglas and the airport, it’s a lovely little community there and the people who live there love it,” Mrs Wolveridge said.
A sprawling modern Queenslander-style home on 3.45ha sold for $1.9m last May after just a month on the market and a home 3.2ha sold for $1.75m – among four big sales there this year.
A $1.6m property features the original Mowbray River State School building, combined with a luxurious new build.
Ray White Port Douglas agent Steve Doble said Mowbray River Rd had many fine Queenslanders that had been relocated there, and a historic footbridge.
He said there were elevated properties with ocean views.
“The area often becomes the stepping stone for Port Douglas locals seeking more private space, natural vegetation and tranquillity while still being a taxi ride from restaurants and bars,” Mr Doble said.
Koppen Terrace, Mooroobool
A prestige address long before the northern beaches was fully developed, Koppen Terrace, a long street in an elevated position that ends in a cul-de-sac, has some grandiose homes.
The highest price on record is $1.10m for 32 Koppen Terrace in September 2021.
The ritzy home at 1-4 Koppen Terrace is on the market with offers in the $3m range sought.
The property on a vast 2517sq m block, once the family home of renowned Far North developer Percy Koppen, was snapped up for $1.2m in 2018 by Hong Thi Thu Phan and her husband, John Lang, who turned it into an intensive couples counselling retreat and now have it on the market.
Jamieson St, Trinity Beach
Another surprise entrant, with a median fuelled by consistently high sales, this street is one back from Moore St and it underscores demand for houses at Trinity Beach.
The highest price on record is $954,000 for 45 Jamieson in June last year.
East Parkridge Drive, Brinsmead
Positioned high up in one of Cairns most desirable suburbs and the tightly held pocket of The Peak, this is a locale that has also long been a blue chip address, but quietly so.
Properties here are very tightly-held.
Number 48 sold for $2.3m in 2017 – it sold in 2014 for $1.59m.
Nolan St, Whitfield
The dress circle address in Cairns, there is a stunning five bedroom pad at 106-108 Nolan St on a 2,544sq m block – price on application.
Four properties at this exclusive street have fetched more than $1m.
Last November, 116 Nolan St sold for $1.75m – on a block that originally sold in 1983 for $42,000, when properties were changing hands at Nolan St for between $80,000 and $145,000.
The palatial home at 66 Nolan St is on the market with offers of between $3m and $3.5m sought.
The list created for the Cairns Post by the Ray White Economics team is based on sales over three years to last November and if a street was more than 15 times the suburb median, it was excluded.
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Originally published as 10 priciest streets in Far North Queensland
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