Riverfront home lights up late winter rise in listings

As Brisbane listings recover, Don and Colleen Gardiner’s opulent riverfront mansion is expected to make waves on the market.

The Brisbane riverfront home at 98 Virginia Ave’s private grass tennis court.

Retired Brisbane pharmacy businessman Don Gardiner and wife Colleen have placed their riverfront family home of almost 30 years on the market, as listings in the Queensland capital begin to rise.

The couple’s three-level home in the leafy suburb of Hawthorne was designed to make the most of the oversized block and take advantage of the city’s enviable climate. Among the luxuries it has a lawn tennis court, pool and private jetty access.

Mr Gardiner’s name was synonymous with a chain of independent pharmacies in Brisbane before he retired in 2000. He said the home was a reflection of the couple’s hard work, purchased after their children had left home.

“We always wanted to live on the river but we couldn’t afford it when we were younger,” he said.

The Gardiners bought a big block “which demanded you put a big house on it”.

“We knew what we wanted, and we ended up with this huge block of land which demanded you put a big house on it.”

The Gardiners purchased the property more than 30 years ago. The colonial home that was standing there was removed and plans were drawn for their dream home. They eventually moved in 1996.

The gated home opens to a glamorous dress circle driveway around the tennis court. The interior of the five-bedroom property balances light and space to take in as much as possible of the river view from its elevated position. The rear of the home has 20.1m of absolute river frontage.

Not only was the property a backdrop for one of their children’s wedding receptions, Ms Gardiner has fond memories of weekly tennis matches with friends, and grandchildren in the pool.

“I have friends I’ve been playing tennis with close on 50 years,” she said. “The last 20 years have been at our house and it’s just wonderful. It was a great social point. It’s been a huge part of my life.”

The Gardiners are downsizing and moving to an apartment on the opposite side of the Brisbane River at New Farm.

The Brisbane riverfront home displays modern glamour and good taste.

Place New Farm principal Sarah Hackett is marketing the property at 98 Virginia Ave, and the top offer campaign closes on August 22.

It is one of a wave of new properties which have come up for sale in recent weeks as the market experiences a surprising late winter rise.

PropTrack data shows listings have begun to rebound ahead of the busier spring selling season, with stock levels 12.6 per cent up on pre-Covid 2019 levels.

PropTrack economist Angus Moore said activity this year had failed to keep pace with the red-hot pandemic years, but it was stronger than expected. “Although it wasn’t a big jump, at 6 per cent month on month it is unusual for the time of year,” Mr Moore said, based on the data firm’s June listings report.

Modern design meets traditional elegance.

“June is typically a quieter month than May as the winter season gets under way, and June is normally the quietest month of winter.

“Part of the story behind the unseasonable bounce in listings in June is likely due to stronger-than-expected home prices. The fact that prices have started to recover this year is likely supporting vendor confidence.”

Further down the river bend in the southwest suburb of Chelmer, an ultra private brand-new home has been placed on the market.

One of the most viewed properties in the state on Realestate.com.au immediately after launch, the contemporary, high-set home has five bedrooms across three levels of living.

A top offer campaign for 154 Hargreaves Ave is being run by Place ­Bulimba agent Darcy Lord. The campaign will end on August 10.

A prestige home in the suburb at Leura St in Hawthorne that once belonged to influential Queensland businessman Jim Kennedy sold for $10.21m in July last year.