Race season in the Whitsundays has set sail, but not all the action takes place on the water.
According to real estate doyen Carol Carter, the property market is also a focus for the national and international visitors who flock to the North Queensland dream destination at this time of year for the annual A-list events, including Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks.
Ms Carter, part of the prestigious Sotheby’s International Realty group, says Hamilton Island Race Week brings a discerning clientele to the area, many of whom look to make a real estate investment in the region.
“Race Week sees more and more people falling in love with the area,” Ms Carter said. “Many of these are looking at investing in a holiday home or moving to the area.”
Ms Carter, who handles many of the region’s most celebrated and significant properties, said there are some stunning homes on the market during Race Week 2019, including the spectacular 7 Forest Lane home of prominent Queensland property developer Cliff Hill.
“The Forest Lane home is a perfect example of why people want to move to The Whitsundays,” she said.
“It is a magnificent home. Sophisticated yet practical, high-end yet understated, and views that are truly unsurpassed.
“Cliff and his wife Freya have created an outstanding home, and we know there will be a lot of interest in it.”
Just a five-minute drive from the Port of Airlie, 7 Forest Lane is located at the peak of Mount Whitsunday, surrounded by tropical rainforest, high above the Whitsunday township.
With sweeping 300-degree views of the sparkling Coral Sea, this home has been masterfully designed by Paul Curran, principal of PUSH Architects, in conjunction with the owners.
Mr Hill, who over his 50-year building career has built more than 2,300 houses and 600 units in Queensland alone, said he never tires of creating homes people love, and Forest Lane was no exception.
“This location is so spectacular, we wanted to respect the natural elements and build a home that is quite simple really, not fussy or overdone,” Mr Hill said. “The home is sophisticated, practical and lets the location take centre stage.”
Maximising the natural elements of the north-facing site, with an emphasis on modern open-plan living, the home features beautiful Tallowwood joinery, a gourmet kitchen with a spacious pantry, and four king-sized bedrooms, each with breathtaking views.
The covered terrace with BBQ kitchen is perfect for outdoor entertaining and is enhanced by a stunning mosaic tiled pool.
Mr Hill said the home is a place to be enjoyed, whether entertaining guests, or enjoying some quiet time admiring the stunning sunset with a glass of wine.
“Waking up here is really something,” he said. “The view alone makes the simple act of sitting on the deck in the mornings a wonderful experience.”
Extra attention to design detail, engineering and construction techniques have made this a rock-solid home able to withstand the worst mother nature can bestow.
“When we briefed the engineers, I said ‘Go overboard. Make this home as strong as possible’ and they did,” Mr Hill said. “The house has been put to the test and it came through brilliantly.”
Other features include an internal lift adjacent to the oversized garage, a climate-controlled wine and storage cellar, solar panels, backup generator, reticulation, and water tanks.
The low-maintenance gardens feature an extensive tropical orchard, which is a particular passion of the Hills.
“A few years ago I built a development in Ipswich, where we integrated beneficial landscaping – giving all residents access to fruit trees,” Mr Hill said. “It was so well received, that I have tried to implement beneficial landscaping ever since. Here at Forest Lane we have this wonderful orchard, with over 30 types of fruits.
“In the morning, I wander down and pick the fruit we will have for breakfast – it really is idyllic.”
The home is completed by a flat grassy pad at the property entrance which features a large shed with additional car parking and boat storage.
Ms Carter said she expects the home to generate strong interest during Race Week.
“It’s a beautiful, well-designed, and solidly-constructed home in a stunning location with views you simply won’t find anywhere else.”
