On their 75-acre waterside block north of Bundaberg, the owners believed this location called for a Classic Queenslanders style of home
Nestled amid the gum trees and overlooking Baffle Creek, this colonial masterpiece looks as though it has stood in that location for 100 years. Heritage features include the shady wraparound verandahs with corner rotunda, attractive butterfly stairs to the main entrance, cedar-framed French doors and windows, colonial railings and decorative verandah brackets.
This fabulous home is called Kotuku, which in Maori means white heron, an elegant bird frequently seen along the creek. The owner enlisted the help of his nephew, a master builder from Nelson, New Zealand, to construct the Classic Queenslanders kit home.
An abundance of surian cedar-framed french doors and double-hung windows allows plenty of light and ventilation to the lounge room, study and bedrooms. Attractive double french doors with a fixed glass panel above light up the dining room and kitchen. A wide colonial archway separates the living rooms and adds another heritage element. Polished timber floors and the wood heater in the lounge give a comfy warm feel.
Kotuku is highset with a spacious open area underneath. Timber palings are fashioned to create arches between the verandah posts. The exterior colour scheme is predominantly green and white with shades of squiggle, moonlight and Irish linen, highlighted with manor red trims. A Greensmart solar hot water system is environmentally friendly.
The design of the home maximises the northerly aspect over the river and catches the summer sea breezes. All rooms enjoy a rural bushland outlook through double french doors. The result is a light and airy home which remains cool because of the wide verandahs on all sides.
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The Kotuku’s owners chose the Classic Queenslanders package that allowed them to develop a personalised house design. This enabled them to act as owner-builders. The company helped the owners to fine tune an initial floor plan into a workable layout that encapsulated the features desired in the home. A CAD program produced the plans, elevations and fantastic 3D perspectives of the house in the planning stage.
Classic Queenslanders arranged the necessary working drawings, engineering and the preparation of documentation for council approval.
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They can provide plans and materials for those who wish to construct their own home, or alternatively can build to lock-up stage as well as offering construction to full completion in some locations. Investing time with their clients allows them to build homes that completely satisfy all of their requirements.
Since 1993, Classic Queenslanders has won numerous building and design awards. “Smart House” principles are incorporated to promote sustainability and give the clients homes that are long-lasting and distinctive.
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The Kotuku
Price: $165,000 (stage two kit), $360,000 full build
Size: 274 square metres (including verandahs)
Accommodation: Lounge and dining rooms, study, two bedrooms with ensuites, kitchen, laundry, wraparound verandahs with rotunda, parking underneath
Construction: Timber with cladding, Colorbond roof
Construction time: Three months
Special features: Heritage Queenslander design with colonial touches like butterfly stairs, decorative railings and verandah brackets, archway inside, verandahs all round with spacious rotunda in one corner |
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