Mermaid Beach shack in a prime location with direct ocean views
One of the last remaining beach shacks on the sands of the Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach strip is being marketed for the first time in 43 years.
One of the last remaining beach shacks on the sands of the Gold Coast’s sought-after Mermaid Beach strip is being marketed for the first time in 43 years.
Nestled among a string of beachside mansions with millionaire owners, the quaint retro home has been a holiday home for the Kay family since it was purchased by Brisbane couple Patricia and James for $58,000 in 1978 through their cleaning company, before transferring it into their ownership at $235,000.
They share memories of piling into the car with three kids and a menagerie of animals for six weeks of relaxation on the sand. But the home at 13E Ocean View Easement gets little use now that the family has aged and Mr Kay has passed, so they have decided to sell.
“I think even back in the day, when dad first walked through that house back in 78, he thought, ‘how could you go wrong with a house on the front of the beach in Australia?’,” said Seamus Kay, the couple’s son.
“It’s been an incredible spot. We never get sick of the view. How could you go wrong with a location like that? It’s never been rented out, always a holiday home, but it’s time now to hand the keys over to the next family to move in and enjoy or build a dream house on.”
Direct ocean views from the rear of the three-bedroom, one-bathroom property span north to the Spit and south to Coolangatta. It is one of five homes of its kind in the area.
The uniqueness of the property makes it hard to compare to similar sales. Just as the market began to take off in October, another old beach shack along the millionaires row of Hedges Ave at Mermaid Beach sold for $4.9m.
House prices on the Gold Coast have climbed 11 per cent in the year to April, according to property researcher CoreLogic’s quarterly Regional Report.
One in five properties sold for more than $1m, with time on market dropping 17 days to 29 days.
Ray White Mermaid Beach agent Joanna Bell-Booth said “rare opportunity” to buy the cute beach shack had created intense interest, with the agent fielding more than 100 inquiries in the first week of the campaign.
“There have been people who have looked at this property for years and thought it would never go on the market,” Ms Bell-Booth said.
“In terms of intention with the property, it has been 50/50. There have been quite a few people who have said they will keep it how it is and use it as a beach house, just like those who say they will knock it down and build their own home.
“This is being offered to the market for the first time in almost 40 years. It’s the end of an era for this family; it is only the beginning for the next family.”
The home is near the Nobby Surf Club and cafe precinct.
Offers of over $4m are expected when it goes to auction on June 12 at 10am.
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