2-4 Shelly Crescent, Lamb Island, QLD, 4184, Australia

Rare on Lamb, a 1158m2 corner-block on two titles. The 3-bedroom house is on one plot and gardens on the other, both looking out to Straddie and the big-blue yonder.

Rustic and certainly not for everyone, this double-storey Besser-block home is located on the corner of Shelly Crescent and Lovell Parade, with Blaksley Beach just 300 metres away.

If you’re after an excellent area to raise your family and want to live basically off-grid, this property allows for that and includes many permaculture must-haves:
• Own water-source (well & bore), but town-water connected and in use
• Fruit trees (banana, cherry, lychee, avocado etc.)
• Veggie gardens
• Chicken-coop
• Composting bays
• Rocket-stove (in the Hobbit house)
• Good regenerative soil
• North-East aspect
• Passive heating & cooling with wide eaves & ivy-covered walls
• Solar panels x 18
• Water-tanks & IBCs in yard
• Indoor wood-fire
• Mature tree-canopy for shade (ficus and gums)
• Excellent re-use of materials

Alternatively, you could renovate extensively to bring it up to modern standards and prune the vegetation back for wider views. But why, when everything you need is already here and functions well?

Starting from the Shelly Crescent entry, where wide gates open to a carport with floating shade-sail and reveal ivy-clad walls (like those seen on old English manor-houses) in the background, while a man-made babbling brook runs through the grounds. Totally unexpected!

What strikes you next is the eclectic garden-art and tropical plants hugging the house. Vibrant colours from the heliconia, frangipani and jacaranda provide a lush backdrop to the busy sculptures and interesting artefacts. A subterranean Hobbit house, complete with working rocket-stove and chimney would make a great cubby-house.

Walking the grounds, the sprawling landscape is transfixing and you can easily get lost in a tepee-wonderland or disappear behind a glistening wall of beer-bottles. Nothing is wasted here. Recycled corks hang from a home-made spa snuggled in the foliage, beneath an arbour of twisted vines and a retired surfboard.

An old screen-door provides a quick exit to the waterside opposite, accessed via a public-path. There is even another set of gates for separate entry to the not-so-vacant block. Bits and pieces of forgotten items make intriguing conversation-pieces as you meander amongst the tall trees, heading toward the house.

Skirting past the residence, take a peak around the other side to find a 6x6 metre shed on a slab, complete with power. A couple of water-tanks stand on-guard, beside the forgotten chicken-coop (chooks free-range here) and an inviting lawn—ideal for lazy mornings and afternoon siestas in a hammock.

Circle around to the carport again, enjoying the meditative stream as you make your way to the homestead.

A myriad of recycled doors and windows make an interesting feature, sheltering an open-area under the house and allowing light to come inside. The concrete floor provides a cool entertaining space and opens to the East-facing yard. Two bedrooms, both with tiled floors, celling fans and highlight windows, are located to the right.

One of the bedrooms has ensuite-access to the open-style (no glass) bathroom, with a loo and vanity. A sliding-door connects to the laundry, which is so large you can fit a fridge and freezer (handy when entertaining) and store those bulky items, you don’t want cluttering upstairs.

Coming out of the laundry, a timber stairwell leads you up to the main living area and master bedroom. Arriving at the top, rest your hand on the gnarly wooden rail and feel the life-force in this home.

A covered-deck with hardwood floorboards and a ceiling-fan, greet you in a welcoming salute. Turn-around and face the water view above the treetops (a haircut would enhance this more) and feel the breeze off the bay. What a fantastic area for all-year outdoor living, looking over the yard and out to Straddie.

Reused windows and doors from yesteryear make another appearance. A rustic barn-door with forged hardware, glides to reveal the master-suite to the right. Light and airy, this room also connects to the living, through the double-set of sliding-doors. Depending on your circumstances, this love-nest upstairs is ideal for a couple, while the kids can bunk downstairs and have their own space to hang-out.

Going back to the entry-deck, step through the sliders into the cavernous open-plan kitchen and living. The vaulted ceiling makes for a dramatic dining-space and can easily accommodate a table for twelve. Ceiling fans flutter above and a Masport wood-fire with flue, promises romantic evenings ahead.

Another bespoke barn-door slider adjoining the kitchen, exposes a convenient toilet and vanity. No, you don’t have to go downstairs for the bathroom!

Imagine, all the things you could do to make this home your special place? Think, where you’d hang your art and place the furniture (which by the way, can be included in the sale). Then fast-forward a few years and reflect on the happiness and joy you’ve experienced and all the memories you’ve made, here.

Walking distance to everything on Lamb and only a short ferry-ride to the other islands or Redland Bay, you’ll never feel isolated or remote.

If you want to connect with nature and live by the sea, enjoying the simple things and taking time to smell the roses, then 2-4 Shelly Crescent is your destiny. Retain both titles for a large estate, then perhaps sell-off the 594m2 land at Number 2, when you’re ready to wind-down. Sounds like the perfect retirement plan!

To make this permaculture heaven a reality, call Chris McGregor on 0420 555 997 and start living your dream.