Sustainable home built with historic materials draws market attention

A unique property constructed with reclaimed materials including railway sleepers and sandstone steps from Boggo Road Gaol has been listed for sale in southeast Queensland.

Newton House, located in Wolffdene between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, features straw bale walls and sustainable design elements throughout its structure.

The 4.38-hectare property was built over 15 years by a husband and wife team with a focus on sustainability and historical preservation.

Among its distinctive features is a red gum bathtub that had to be craned into position, marine pylons from Horn Island jetty, and a staircase crafted from a Queensland maple tree.

Natasha Bercich from Willcox Estate Agents, who is marketing the property alongside Jesse Willcox, described the home as unlike any she had previously encountered.

“It is definitely an emotional type of home, you’ve got to really feel it to understand it,” she said.

“It’s not your typical home where you walk in and see four walls.”

“Everything in there has a story and the materials all have a story.”

Property records show the current owners purchased the land for $113,000 in 1999 before embarking on their building project.

The home utilises straw bale wall construction, a method introduced to Australia by the seller’s late husband, who was a structural engineer.

“The walls in the home are all made of straw bale which is incredible,” Ms Bercich said.

“There is no need for fans or airconditioning as the air flow throughout the home is amazing.”

The current configuration includes a one-bedroom retreat with living area, kitchen and bathroom, with plans for future expansion included in the sale.

A separate 6m x 6m rustic space provides additional accommodation with a kitchenette and potbelly stove.

Ms Bercich noted that while the property has been connected to the electrical grid, it was designed for self-sufficiency.

“It was a love project,” she said.

“For this one, it will be all about the emotional connection and finding a buyer who is wanting a little bit more of that off-the-grid living.”

“There is a push to be self-sustainable and with the cost of living and how high bills are at the moment, that is quite an attractive part of the property.”

The property is being marketed without a price guide, with expressions of interest being sought from potential buyers.

According to PropTrack data, only four houses have changed hands in Wolffdene over the past 12 months, with insufficient sales to establish a median house price for the area.