Cairns real estate: Land at Lockhart River on the market

Would you choose river frontage, wetland, open pasture or rainforest for your dream Cape York property? Four freehold parcels of land have hit the market for the first time in 50 years and are expected to catch the attention of eco-tourism investors.

Land at Lockhart River at Cape York is on the market with Colliers International. Picture: supplied.

IMAGINE your own Cape York getaway property on the edge of Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park at Lockhart River.

Four parcels of freehold land have hit the market.

There’s a choice between river frontages, wetland areas, open pasture and rainforest.

The land was originally part of the 60,700ha King Park property, comprising rainforest and cleared pastures, bought by Queensland Pastoral Supplies owner Peter Huybers in the late 1960s.

Mr Huybers was tasked with relocating the local community from Orchid Point to Lockhart River, more than 65km away, for easier road access and to be closer to the Royal Flying Doctor Service airstrip, his son Peter Huybers said.

Four parcels of land at Lockhart River are on the market with Colliers International. Picture: supplied.

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Mr Huybers Snr he fell in love with the remote and unexplored region, and stayed on with his young family.

“He became a well-known and respected figure in the community, making lifelong friends with local Indigenous elders,” Mr Huybers said.

“He had a love for nature, so in the 1970s he struck a landmark deal with the government of the day, returning the rainforest land he owned in exchange for freehold title of the balance, making King Park one of the very few freehold properties of its size in the Cape,” he explained.

Land that was once part of King Park property has become available for sale. Picture: supplied.

In 1981, the rainforest land became Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, 752km north of Cairns via the Peninsula Developmental Road.

It has expanded from an original 33,000ha to 53,160ha and has international significance as the largest remaining area of lowland rainforest in Australia.

Kutini means cassowary and Payamu means Rainbow Serpent.

Mr Huyber said after nearly 50 years, it was time to pass on the land, and it had been subdivided into four blocks ranging from about 15ha to 24ha.

Lot prices range from $394,000 to $514,000.

“We call it the last great wilderness,” Mr Huyber said.

“We have been working with the local Cook Shire Council to make this happen.”

He said freehold land at Cape York was rarely available, and offerings around Lockhart River were even more scarce.

Four parcels of land offer a range of options including cleared pasture, rainforest and access to Claudie River. Picture: supplied.

Mr Huyber said some of the blocks would be perfect for eco-tourism development, subject to council approval.

“Our dad would have been proud of what we have done with the land,” he said.

“In many ways, this new land subdivision of the old King Park property is a new beginning for us.”

Lot 4 is 21.46Ha of flat, cleared land leading to the Claudie River, with entry off a bitumen road.

Lot 5 is 23.89Ha of lush pasture on flat, cleared land with two road frontages and a dam, leading to the Claudie River.

A bore and a billabong are features of the 19.84ha Lot 6, which is cleared pastures, surrounded by rainforest with great views to the mountain range, with Mt Tozer in the background.

The 15.38ha Lot 7 has a cleared home site, rainforest, views, a small lake and a billabong.

The land is being marketed by Colliers agent Stacey Quaid.

Originally published as Cairns real estate: Land at Lockhart River on the market