Real Estate NT’s George Pikos has worked in the Top End real estate industry for many years and has sold numerous distinctive properties throughout his career.

Referring to them as “architectural masterpieces”, Mr Pikos said the unique properties he has sold have always attracted countless inquiries.

“These types of properties always present and market very well and always draw lots of attention,” he explained.

“Much of our housing are ‘off the shelf’ type designs making our suburbs very mundane, so when a quirky home hits the market it is seen as something different and really stands out.”

Properties that hit the Territory’s housing market can be very surprising, with tropical Top End retreats and handcrafted homes built from scratch, just some of the rare gems that can be found.

In between the stock standard contemporary homes popping up for sale in some of the Top End’s newer residential suburbs, buyers in the market who have been waiting patiently for a home unlike any other are sometimes rewarded with something truly special.

Mr Pikos said seasoned homebuyers who have already had experience with purchasing unique properties are the type of demographic that is usually in the market for something out-of-the-ordinary.

“These buyers already have somewhere to live and are prepared to bide their time for the right property to come up for sale,” he said.

“Buyers look for something special and those who are prepared to wait for the right property are very well rewarded.”

While some agents have noticed a demand for quirky dwellings, other experts in the industry say unique homes take a lot longer to move off the market.

Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory chief executive officer Quentin Kilian said homes that make a “visual statement” usually take a longer period of time to sell.

“If you have a nice looking, but essentially functional house you would increase the pool of buyers, whereas a house that is ‘unique’ is only going to appeal to a smaller set of buyers,” he said.

“Some of these types of houses are not the most practical homes and they are often built because the owner wanted to make their statement.”

Elders Darwin residential property consultant Derek Hart said it’s all about pairing the right home with the right person. “Usually these properties do take further time to sell because they are so unique, but it is just finding that type of person who wants that sort of property,” he said.

“However, if the right buyer comes along and falls in love with the property, they do sell very quickly, as the buyer won’t see another unique property for a while.”

Christine Habel, a retired real estate agent that worked in Darwin for 32 years, said the Northern Territory naturally lends itself to quirky homes.

“We get all sorts of people in the Territory who are after unique dwellings to suit their alternative lifestyles,” she explained.

“Up in Darwin, people like properties that are totally different — especially if it’s their idea they’ve come up with themselves.”

HUMPTY DOO

With a striking circular door and impressive brickwork throughout, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had been transported to a faraway hobbit village after seeing this unique Humpty Doo home.

It’s owner, Rob O’Keeffe, is a block layer and built the home from scratch over about 12 years. As well as the house, thousands of blocks were also used to create the property’s driveway, smokehouse and even the chook house.

With his love for the popular film The Hobbit, Mr O’Keeffe said it was only natural the family home had a circular entrance.

“I just love the round doors in the movie, so throughout the house I’ve created portal windows and doors and a water feature set in an internal wall, which is also in the shape of a circle,” he laughed.

TENNANT CREEK

Made with thousands of mud bricks, this five-bedroom home in Tennant Creek was definitely a labour of love for builder James Pomare.

The long-time Territorian spent around 20 years of his life designing and constructing the unique home, even making over 5000 mud bricks by hand.

“I actually made the bricks out of termite nests — it was quite a process as I had to break them down, mix them with water and sand, before pouring the mud into moulds,” Mr Pomare said.

“Working with mud is great as it’s not too hard to fix and you can change things if you want to, plus it keeps the home nice and cool in this tropical climate.”

MUIRHEAD

They may look small from the outside, but what you can squeeze inside these 6m x 2.4m homes is truly remarkable.

Built by NIMM Constructions owner Nick Milatos through his new business ‘Custom Tiny Homes’, these unique abodes boast just about everything that a regular house has including a bathroom, sleeping lofts, a sofa bed, a kitchen and even split system airconditioning.

Mr Milatos said he was drawn to the idea of building homes that promoted a simpler and more affordable lifestyle for young professionals on the move.

“The real concept behind the tiny homes is minimalist living — owning less and leading a cheaper lifestyle,” he said. “We don’t require as much space as what we think we need, we are just accustomed to it.”

ALICE SPRINGS

Located in the Red Centre of Australia, this self-contained geodesic dome showcases some of the best solutions in sustainable living.

The ‘Phoenix Dome’ was designed, fabricated and built by Dan Falzon, the owner of sustainability, education and tourism enterprise, Earth Sanctuary.

Mr Falzon said each panel was built from flat steel sheets and fabricated into triangles.

“The total coverage consists of over 260 panels and 64 windows, and the dome sits on a raised floor consisting of a clever product called wonder board made from plant fibre.”

With a passion for helping people understand the principles of sustainable living, Mr Falzon said the multi dome steel fabrication brings together solutions in energy, water, shelter, food, utilities and wellbeing.

LARRAKEYAH

Many long-time Territorians will remember the famous ‘flying saucer’ house that once sat on the site of the old Darwin Hospital in Larrakeyah.

Built by architect Peter Dermoudy in 1971, the spherical-shaped home featured a kitchen, a bedroom, a toilet/shower and even a motorised front door/stairs.

“The sphere had four loose oval acrylic windows in the floor section at the rear, looking down the precipice. It was just spectacular,” Mr Dermoudy said.

Officially known as ‘the Futuro’, the unique dwelling attracted attention from all over the globe before it was destructed when Cyclone Tracy rolled through Darwin in 1974.

LARRAKEYAH

This two-bedroom Japanese inspired home is the result of hours of planning by owners David and Pam Flint.

The long-time Territorians designed the unique property with the help of architect Peter Dermoudy, who also built ‘rusty towers’ and ‘the Futuro’ in the same suburb. Mr and Mrs Flint bought the expansive 1350 sqm block of land for just $4000 before building their dream home in 1972.

As Darwin locals, the couple understood the importance of building a house that could withstand the Top End’s severe weather conditions. And it was lucky they did, with Cyclone Tracy hitting Darwin in 1974. “The house is built out of 17 inch reinforced concrete and I’ve changed all the glass in the house from the standard 3mm to 10mm toughened glass,” Mr Flint explained.

“The reason we built it like that is because we are so exposed here.

“The only way we were going to have a house here for any length of time was for it to be built out of concrete, so it would survive cyclones and wouldn’t blow away.”

Split over three levels, the property was specifically created for the unique, sloping block of land that offers stunning views over Larrakeyah.

The home has been tastefully finished throughout with wooden fittings and furnishings, made by former Northern Territory business Darwin Joinery.

“Everything in this house is handmade and it’s important to me to use locally made products because they are totally unique,” Mr Flint said.

“Pam and I are fortunate as we both love wooden carvings, plus it’s a classic material that will never go out of fashion.”

Aside from the wooden elements of the home, Mr Flint said the handmade slate and rock walls are another standout feature of the property.

“Everything here has come out of my head. It’s pretty special knowing you can’t buy any of this in a shop,” he said.

Additional features of this unique Larrakeyah home include a swimming pool, outdoor barbecue and entertaining area, games room and four-car garage.

LARRAKEYAH

Constructed by the same Territorian that built the Futuro, this unique silo dwelling in Larrakeyah still stands today.

Using 45 tonnes of concrete and three welding machines, architect Peter Dermoudy was able to create his dream home from two steel silos.

Dubbed ‘rusty towers’, the five-storey residence boasted 12 living spaces, a library, a roof top deck and even a swimming pool.

Mr Dermoudy said the rusty towers living experience was totally unique.

“It was like living in flying saucer all over again, but all around you, next door, above and below you with 12 different and luring living spaces,” he said.