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LAKESIDE LUXE

A relocated Queenslander in the hills behind the Sunshine Coast is the perfect location for this English family.

By CARROL BAKER, photography KATHY HILL

Sometimes in life you just have to take a leap of faith. That’s exactly what a young English couple did when they swapped the glamour and glitz of the Gold Coast for a luxurious rural retreat on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Neil Holmes and his wife, Heidi, moved to Australia from England. After settling on the Gold Coast for several years, the busy tourist destination had them yearning for a quieter lifestyle. Their adventure all began with a four-day escape to the country.

“I’d lived in rural England and was desperate to get away,” Heidi remembers. “For my birthday we spent a few days in the hinterland by the lake and fell in love with it. I said to Neil we just had to live here,” she says.

Neil quickly adds, “The fi rst thing I thought was, ‘Uh-oh — this is going to be one very expensive birthday present.’”

The fl exibility of their dual creative careers meant they could relocate without jeopardising their jobs. Heidi specialises in interior design, and also does hand-sewing on wedding gowns and fascinators. Neil, on the other hand, is a computer programmer and a selfconfessed geek. “But I am trying to break the mould of the geek stereotype,” he says. With a spring in their step and a twinkle in their eye, it’s easily apparent this inspiring pair shares a deep aff ection for each other and for their adopted home.

Heidi, Neil, their son, Luca, and their Chihuahua, Kiki, all embraced the rural countryside with delight. Neil and Heidi are also revelling in the joys of parenthood. “It changes your life, of course,” Neil says. “It’s been a massive learning curve, but it’s become even more enjoyable raising Luca here with the extra space we have.”

Finding their slice of rural paradise was pure serendipity. That very same birthday long weekend they spotted a for-sale sign on a lakeside property, and after negotiating with the owner, they bought the leafy macadamia farm. There was an old house on the block, and a packing shed located in the prime position to catch the gorgeous rural vista.

“We saw huge potential in it and we both had a very similar vision,” Heidi says. “We wanted to replace the house with a Queenslander and make the most of the panoramic views overlooking that lake.”

These pages: The house now has four bedrooms; Heidi and Neil relax in the living area; the upstairs balcony overlooks the lake; bright flowers add a pop of colour to the white facade.

These pages: Monochrome tiles add a classic touch to the bathroom; the entrance hall sets the tone of the home; the family enjoys farm life; Heidi relaxes on the balcony.

After selling their Gold Coast home, they sourced an original Queenslander to relocate for the block. It arrived in the early hours one morning on the back of two trucks.

“One of the major challenges of the project was the drainage,” Neil says. “It was so muddy we had red clay waterfalls, which Luca loved, but I really can’t say the same for us.”

“During the renovations when we were knee deep in red mud, I’d wake up in a cold sweat thinking, ‘Oh no. Did we really do this?’” Heidi adds. “I think we knew at that point it was either going to be a spectacular failure or a spectacular success.”

Anyone fortunate enough to stroll through the leafy grounds and cosy country home would defi nitely vote for the latter.

The stylish Queenslander has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a media room. Heidi describes the interiors as French provincial with a twist inspired by her childhood holidays in France.

With a fi ne eye for detail, Neil and Heidi have transformed the stately Queenslander. Over a period of two years they painstakingly stripped back the original building to its bare bones and rebuilt it, adding on another level below. The home has a neutral colour palette with colour accents. Each piece of furniture and décor has been lovingly handpicked, with some sourced via markets and opportunity shops, and other pieces brought out from England.

Heidi says when decorating this home she opted for the less-is-more approach. “I think this works, especially when you have one-off pieces that speak for themselves,” she says. Indeed, if the walls of this home could talk, they’d have some colourful tales to share. The home was originally a dance classroom and music room called Charma Place from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane.

When all the hard work was done, the family enjoyed relaxing and relishing in their rural lifestyle. Neil enjoyed cruising the grounds (and mowing the grass) on his fabulous toy — a ride-on mower. “I must confess I’ve always wanted one of these. They’re a lot of fun,” he says.

The rural retreat is currently being rented out as a luxury accommodation called Lake Terrace. For more information visit laketerrace.com.au ACH