A mysterious home which has been under construction for nearly 40 years is set to be completed by new owners.
No.1 Mora Court, Coolum Beach, has become the subject of much speculation over the years.
Real estate agent Daniel Powers discovered the truth about the building, and was able to sell it, after a chance meeting in August with the then-owners.
“I was at Mora Court doing a letterbox drop and speaking to some people when a car pulled up and some people got out,” he said.
“I said: ‘Are you the owners’? ‘Yes’. ‘Are you going in’? ‘Yes’. ‘Can I come in’? ‘Okay’.”
Mr Powers said the home, a concrete structure of Tuscan or Mediterranean influence, was well-known in Coolum and a topic of conversation.
“Some people say it’s a bomb shelter, other people say it’s a haunted house. People talk about it being an environmental conservatory,” he said.
Mr Powers said the original owner, a concreter and draftsman, had bought the land in 1976 and, after research and planning, began building what seemed to be his dream house in 1984.
Following the owner-builder’s death in 2017, the unfinished house passed to a work colleague.
“They didn’t have the resources or the time to see it completed. I said, ‘I’m pretty sure I know some people who would have an interest in possibly being able to try and finish it’,” Mr Powers said.
The McGrath Real Estate Coolum specialist began speaking to potential buyers who he thought might have the interest, capability or resources to do something with the incomplete but solidly built house.
“We also had a meeting with the partner of the builder and got to know the stories of the place and the history. We’ve also uncovered more and more and more of the original drawings,” he said.
He said they had also been able to piece together more of the owner-builder’s vision on every visit to the property.
“I think he was a person who had really compelling ideas and he wanted to do something there that was going to stand the test of time, He was going to make sure the house didn’t go anywhere,” he said.
“I think that’s what he was trying to do: build a dream home for himself.”
Among the discoveries was the provision for a lift to nowhere – beyond the upper floor – just to enjoy the view.
“We feel like the top level would have been living and kitchen, the second level down would have been three bedrooms, one of them being a master,” he said.
“One of the interesting things about the property as the owner-builder had designed it was going to have a garage that was probably going to be the killer of all garages in Coolum.
“Another one of the interesting finds in the place was that there was going to be a fish tank headboard behind the bed.”
Mr Powers said the owner-builder had also planned to have an adjustable fibre-glass floor inside the pool shell so it could transform from paddle pool to deep water, although the method of operation remained unclear.
“We have more questions than answers with the house but we can see a bit of the owner’s vision and have an appreciation of the ideas there,” he said.
“There’s some very good ideas there that certainly, in any market, make the property desirable.”
After drawing multiple offers, the home changed hands, with all parties requesting their details remain private.
Mr Powers said the new owners wanted to honour the original owner’s vision yet breathe new life and modern-day functionality into the property.
He said they intended to incorporate some of the items found in the house in its completion “to tell the story of the home”.
The original builder’s partner was happy to know the home was to be finished, he said.
Mr Powers, whose wife Charlotte is a Coolum local, said he was pleased to have played a part in moving the landmark home towards completion.
“The is one of the most enigmatic, iconic properties in the area,” he said.
“All the locals know about it. This will be a bit of a change for some of them but it will bring a little bit of closure.”
Auction results
221 Oceanic Drive, Bokarina
- Passed in at $2.4m, on the market for $2.5m
- 5 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
- Ray White, Adam Budd
2/299-301 Bradman Avenue, Maroochydore
- Passed in, contact agent
- 2 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
- Ray White, Greg Turnbull and Niall Molloy
6 Cutter Street, Wurtulla
- No auction, on the market for $1.295m
- 5 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car, Pool
- Ray White, Gregory Ward and Zoe Byrne
12 Pheasant Street, Parrearra
- Sold under the hammer for $967,000
- 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
- Ray White, Will Van den Dungen
51 Kundart Street, Coes Street
- Sold prior for $815,009
- 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
- Ray White, Ryan Aldred and Hayley Anderson
14 Currong Street, Minyama
- Sold under the hammer for $1.375m
- 4 Bed, 2 Bath, 3 Car, Pool
- Ray White, Will Van den Dungen
2 Sheen Court, Buderim
- Sold under the hammer for $1.38m
- 4 Bed, 3 Bath, 3 Car
- Ray White, Tully Thompson and Jake Loiero
1 Lurnea Crescent, Mountain Creek
- Sold immediately post auction for $1.43m
- 3 Bed, 3 Bath, 2 Car, Pool
- Ray White, Kristin Cowie
5 Shearer Street, Nambour
- Sold under the hammer for $695,000
- 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
- Ray White, Nicholas Low
16 Golden Pine Way, Palmwoods
- Passed in, on the market for $1.1m
- 4 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
- Ray White, Chevonne Rees
5/44 Alexandra Parade, Maroochydore
- Sold under the hammer for $1.2305m
- 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car
- Ray White, Reuben Park
204/34 Picnic Point Esplanade, Maroochydore
- Passed in at $2.4m, on the market for $2.5m
- 2 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car
- Ray White, Niall Molloy and Ari Whisson
34 Gardak Street, Maroochydore
- Sold under the hammer for $1.475m
- 3 Bed, 1 Bath, 1 Car
- Ray White, Jason Mills
50 Coppabella Crescent, Mooloolaba
- Passed in at $1.6m, on the market for offers $1.9m
- 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 3 Car, Pool
- Define Property Agents, Jordan Barden
6/29 Buderim Avenue, Mooloolaba
- Passed in at $1.25m, on the market for offers from $1.5m
- 3 Bed, 3 Bath, 2 Car
- Define Property Agents, Ross Cattle and Katie Davies
86 Chelsea Crescent, Minyama
- Sold under the hammer for $2.4m
- 4 Bed, 3 Bath, 2 Car, Pool
- Adams & Jones, Karen Jones
99 De Zen Road, Palmview
- Sold under the hammer: Lot 1 for $1.15m and Lot 2 for $1.215m
- Land
- CBRE, Louisa Blennerhassett and Rem Rafter
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