Prestige Property: Two Roads, Maleny, QLD

Two Roads is a peerless, multi award-winning masterpiece of grand scale set on 185 acres of the Queensland Sunshine Coast’s hinterland.

Located in the hills behind Maleny, it is the first time the HIA 2016 Queensland Home of the Year has been offered to the market.

Boasting an intense sense of privacy – with views over the Witta and Curramore Ranges – the 15000sqm, 6-bedroom, 4-bathroom, 7-car garage home is a mere seven-minute drive from the heart of Maleny.

Taking its design cues from the opulent retreats found on the South Island of New Zealand, the exterior of the home sees Alpine granite and Buffalo granite used as the prevailing materials.

Inside, the home uses a select palette of polished concrete and stained hardwood flooring alongside New Guinea Rosewood feature ceilings and dark-stained hardwood shiplap cladding.

The kitchen features European appliances and a polished concrete benchtop with a separate concealed butler’s pantry adjacent.

Large glass doors combine the indoors to the outdoors, with the wraparound veranda, alfresco dining area and large pool featured outside.

Throughout the home one can expect a plethora of living and entertaining spaces – including a large games room and commercial sized gym – office, library guest room and temperature-controlled 1000 bottle wine cellar.

Adding elevated appeal to the home is the use of gas fireplaces dotted throughout the home.

Solar panels are used throughout the property to heat the alongside and Envirocycle system and rainwater tanks capable of holding 300,000 litres to ensure the home tracks towards becoming environmentally neutral.

Further, the grounds are privy to a full-size floodlit tennis court with spectator seating, Olympic size dressage area and helicopter landing site.

These features are further coupled with two self-contained luxury eco-cabins and a renovated 3-bedroom manager’s cottage.

Elsewhere on the property is manicured gardens, pastures, native rainforest, kilometres of walking trails, multiple waterfalls and swimming holes.

As a working farm, it currently has 45 head of cattle, five horses and stockyard, sheds and machinery.

There are few properties in Australia like it.

The listing is with Mosaic Property Group’s Deon Calder (+61 400 551 635); POA.

Mosaicpropertygroup.com

The Australian housing market is rapidly evolving, with new research revealing changing activity in regional and city areas.

The latest Regional Movers Index from the Commonwealth Bank showed the exodus from Australian cities to the regions is significantly exceeding pre-COVID movements, sitting at 19.8 percent higher. Even more revealing is data which showed relocations are 1.8 percent up on the average recorded during the height of the lockdowns. At the same time, people in regional areas are staying put.

The report is a partnership between the Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australian Institute. RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said the regions have become the permanent home of choice for more Australians.

“The inter-regional migration index —which tracks regional to regional relocations — has fallen by 5.1 percent, suggesting that more regional residents are content to stay where they are. With the continuing strong jobs market across regional Australia, increasing city property prices and ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it’s no surprise the regions remain desirable,” Ms Ritchie said.

She said this had significant implications for planners, with a better understanding of infrastructure needs required by planners.

“Regional Australia is truly the nation’s new frontier. There are so many opportunities in our regional communities, but likewise we know there are challenges. Housing for example remains a key ongoing concern in many communities,” she said. “Regional Australia is growing and for that to continue we need adequate foundations. The time to lay them is now.”

Among the areas to benefit from this shift over the past quarter was the Hunter Valley city of Maitland in NSW which saw a 3.4 percent increase in net migration from the cities and other regional areas. Long seen as the less desirable locale in the wine growing region, Maitland has attracted more buyers looking for an affordable home with lifestyle benefits. CBA Executive General Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking Paul Fowler said it was an area on the rise.

“There is significant development happening around Maitland, with extensive land releases for residential, industrial, commercial and retail fuelling strong employment and construction industry opportunities,” Mr Fowler said.

“Maitland is also set to benefit from major investments in the area including the nearby Newcastle Airport which will welcome international flights from 2025, further enhancing the region’s accessibility and economic profile.”

And while Melbourne property prices continue to experience a lull, it’s a different story outside the capital, with regions closer to main city centres performing particularly well.

“A move to regional Victoria remains on trend among those relocating, with the state’s regional areas experiencing the largest surge in popularity in the 12-month period to September 2024, with its share of net regional inflows rising from 21 percent to 30 percent,” Mt Fowler said. “Trending scenic LGAs like Queenscliffe on the coast, as well as Moira, Wangaratta and Strathbogie located further north, offer attractive and more affordable lifestyle opportunities for many Australians.

“With more corporate employers setting up or relocating to Geelong, Queenscliffe’s proximity to Greater Geelong and the Melbourne CBD means more regional Australians can enjoy diverse employment opportunities while living in a beautiful location with enhanced lifestyle opportunities.”

Prestige Property: Two Roads, Maleny, QLD

A modern hinterland masterpiece offered for the first time.

Buyers are moving there in their droves while existing residents know they’re on a good thing