Top-end homes at bargain prices

A sluggish Port Douglas luxury market means it is a great time to be a buyer in the seaside city.

Tanamera at 44 Island Point Road in Port Douglas

A sluggish Port Douglas luxury market means it is a great time to be a buyer in the seaside city, with a large number of distinctive high-end properties currently listed at prices to appeal.

Median house prices in the Douglas Council region rose in 2018, up 3.5 per cent and finishing just shy of $400,000.

The good fortune did not extend to the top end of the market, with only nine out of 189 houses sold in the area last year valued at more than $1 million.

Callum Jones, licensee and real estate agent at The Pink Company represents a number of multimillion-dollar homes.

He says the market has been very quiet and reckons the region is reflecting the depressed trends of southern states as many of the region's top-end buyers are from Sydney and Melbourne

The tropical locale and a lot of interstate and international interest in the region means many of the high-end properties on offer differ architecturally, based on a broad range of influences.

The slow market puts the negotiating power back in the hands of buyers, who have the pick of an eclectic bunch of homes.

Architect Charles Wright specialises in contemporary residential and tropical architecture.

The (W)right House at 28 Beachfront Mirage, Cocos Palms Ave, Port Douglas

The (W)right House at 28 Beachfront Mirage is considered one of his best works, awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Far North Queensland Residential Architecture Award and was named in Australian Traveller magazine’s top 100 great Australian holiday homes — not bad for a home built for his parents.

The environmentally conscious design stands out through its control of the natural materials and angles which flow through the entirety of the property.

Water gardens and the clever use of aspect create a tranquil, self-ventilating space perfect for the tropical conditions, allowing residents to open the folding glass panels that encompass the house and experience true outdoor-indoor living.

Concrete flooring throughout the open-plan living space flow out to large timber decks and walls of lush tropical gardens to create the perfect retreat vibe, which can be secured for a $3.7m through The Pink Company.

Two of the most expensive properties in the area sit atop Flagstaff Hill and overlook the shores of Four Mile Beach and the surrounding rainforests.

Tanamera proudly stands among the tall surrounding tress at 44 Island Point Road.

Recent renovations reflect the current owner’s time spent living in Indonesia, with influences scattered through dark timber accents in living spaces and roof detailing.

A glass sitting room and open-air standing bar perfectly utilise the property’s phenomenal $6.5m views.

1 Wharf Street in Port Douglas

The neighbouring property at 1 Wharf Street places more of a focus on the cliffside grounds.

Architecturally landscaped gardens make the swimming pool look as though it is flowing down toward the sea, with bridges over the cascading water nestled between plants to connect each of the outdoor living spaces.

Contemporary and tropical design isn't for everyone, which is where the Lakeside Retreat in Mowbray Valley fits in.

Embracing the traditional Queenslander design, the two properties sitting beside a lake on the sprawling 5.25ha block resemble a picturesque scene from the 2004 film, The Notebook.

The huge, white Queenslander has a deck that wraps around the whole home, overlooking the nearby lake and a swimming pool and taking advantage of local breezes. Inside, the home is classically designed with elaborate fretwork and timber throughout, including the catering sized kitchen, study and family room.

It also has a three bedrooms, two bathrooms, guesthouse and machinery shed, with the vendor hoping to fetch $4m.