Story behind mysterious and abandoned Mirriwinni mansion

Every year thousands pass by the ruins of an old mansion on the Bruce Highway and wonder about the chain of events that led to the Far North building being abandoned. SEE THE VIDEO

EVERY year thousands pass by the ruins of an old mansion on the Bruce Highway at Mirriwinni and wonder about the chain of events that led to the building being abandoned.

Many fascinated by the two storey block ruin stop to get photos of the half-finished house and a bride and groom have even had wedding pictures taken with the house in the background.

A large block mansion, located on the Bruce Highway at the northern end of the township of Mirriwinni, has remained an uncompleted project. Picture: Brendan Radke

Fabled stories of a family tragedy circulated after construction stopped and the house was listed for sale in 2016 but the reality is a little less dramatic.

After more than 400 days on the market five years ago listing agent Brian Bolton said the owners withdrew the house for sale.

“It’s a bit an icon,” he said.

“It was planned to be a family home and things changed for them, but they may continue to build.”

The staircase of the building leading to the first floor. Picture: Peter Carruthers

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Five years on from the 2016 sales campaign mould on the block work has turned the building black, there’s moss growing on the concrete slab and impacts of wet weather have begun to take a toll.

The house is a permanent reminder of a family’s dream that never became a reality.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said the groundwork for the building was completed by February 2011.

Plans for the house were drawn specifically for the site by property owners according to real estate agent Brian Bolton. Picture: Brendan Radke

“And on the eve of (Cyclone Yasi) they had one wall up,” he said.

“That wall is still standing so it obviously didn’t make a difference and now she is pretty well just derelict.”

One neighbour speculated property owners were relying on the proceeds of the banana crop to finish the build.

When the crop was destroyed by cyclonic winds the property owners didn’t have the means to complete the project, the neighbour said.

Nearly every day the Mirriwinni resident living next door to the half finished building said people pulled up to look at the house for a look.

Every year hundreds of passing motorists stop to photograph the building. Picture: Peter Carruthers

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“We feel that it’s replicating Paronella Park,” he said.

“They pull up here and my wife has seen them getting wedding photos.”

Despite a real estate agent believing the build could be resurrected the neighbour believed the building was too far gone for construction to ever finish.

The house is located at the northern end of Mirriwinni on the Bruce Highway. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The concrete is back with mould, it has never been sealed and all the silica is leaching out of the concrete.”

Ray White Cairns South had the house and 13.41Ha land parcel for sale for low $300,000s in 2016 and the property received “a lot of interest” according to Mr Bolton but never sold.

Originally published as Story behind mysterious and abandoned Mirriwinni mansion