Mansion has lived-in feeling

The Baxter home in Cleveland, south of Brisbane, is palatial, modern and much loved.

At home with Steve Baxter and wife Emily Picture: Glenn Hunt

Many people dream of being able to walk out their back door and straight on to the beach.

For the Baxter family, that is their reality. Tech investor and former Shark Tank panellist Steve Baxter and wife Emily moved into their oceanfront home in the Redland’s suburb of Cleveland, south of Brisbane, six years ago.

“When we came back from Adelaide I wanted acreage by the ocean with an airstrip but good luck getting that in Brisbane,” Steve laughed.

Inside the home of Steve Baxter and wife Emily Picture: Glenn Hunt

“We started bringing expectations back from there. We made an offer on a place at Gumdale but that fell through so we went a few suburbs out and went, ‘gosh, there are canals here’.”

The family friendly home has a little something for everyone, from the open-plan living space with views to the water to the butlers pantry in the kitchen to the many spaces for the kids to run amok.

But it is Steve’s office that commands the best views of all.

Originally a second outdoor entertaining space when the home was built in the early 1980s, it was closed in by a previous owner and now features floor to ceiling windows that fill the space with light and lead out to a small outdoor sitting area.

Inside, a heavy set desk faces an informal meeting space of couches and several bookshelves reaching to the roof, adorned with books and knick-knacks.

A set of storage drawers holds Steve Baxter’s map collection Picture: Glenn Hunt

A set of storage drawers hold Steve’s extensive map collection. The self-confessed “map-o-phile’’ has an interest in documenting areas Australians have fought in conflict and has accumulated his collection over several years.

In the years since 2012 the family has put their own stamp on the property. The pavers that lined the entirety of the backyard were pulled up and replaced with lawn, with the pool being downsized to one easier to maintain.

A rocking horse for the twins Picture: Glenn Hunt

The biggest difference is the whooping roof extension that covers the outdoor alfresco, protecting against the harsh summer sun and warming the space through winter.

While working from home is a little more difficult with the couple’s three young daughters, Olivia, 6, and twins Nina and Kara, 2, chasing after him, he is quite used to doing so.

In 1994, 23-year-old Steve launched his first start-up from the spare room of his Adelaide home. Internet service provider SE Net would go on to work with 35,000 customers before being bought by Ozemail and UUNet.

He recently launched a new syndicate investment company called Ten13, which focuses on investing in start-ups with rapid growth potential, usually within the tech field.

A unique chess set Picture: Glenn Hunt

While a busy work life doesn’t leave much room for down time, the water-loving family try to make the most out of their location. A bucket of beach toys sits by the glass gate that heads down to the sand, while the kayak on the grass can often be seen traversing the calm waters.

When the seas are too high or rough, the family will retreat to their in-ground pool next to the ­alfresco area.

The girls have dominion over the living room. A growing cardboard village made up of discarded bulky goods and storage boxes sits underneath the television, with cut out doors, windows and shopfronts allowing young imaginations to run wild.

Christmas will come early for the youngsters this year, with a jungle gym and trampoline being installed out the front of the home

Strong sea winds have put to rest any hope of a thriving fruit orchard but a small veggie patch of carrots and lettuce has survived the weather and is used to teach the kids where food comes from.

Being well switched on to the world of tech, the home is electronically run. A tech rack in the downstairs cupboard connects electronics to devices and automates the lights and front door.