October 28th 2024.
Keirra and Chris Massoud had always dreamed of owning their own farm in the picturesque Mary Valley on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. When they finally purchased their block of farmland, it was a blank canvas with no house or driveway in sight.
Keirra recalls, "When we first bought the land, it was just fields and fields. There was nothing there, no house, no driveway, nothing." But instead of building a new, modern house on the land, Keirra had her heart set on something different that would blend in with the natural beauty of the landscape.
"My husband wasn't too keen on the idea, but I was determined to find an old Queenslander house that we could buy and relocate to our property," Keirra explains. And that's exactly what they did. Little did they know, they would end up being pioneers in a popular trend and booming industry – the rescue, sale, and relocation of Queensland's iconic timber cottages.
After months of searching, Keirra stumbled upon their dream home in 2017 through an ad on Gumtree. "I fell in love with it the moment I saw it," she says. "There weren't many pictures, only about five, but I was drawn to the facade, the big verandah, and the bull nose front."
The 1930s Queenslander was located in Narangba, Morton Bay, about 150 kilometers south of their farm. The previous owner had sold his property but made an agreement with the developer to save his beloved home, which he had built himself. "I was a bit hesitant to call him at first because I didn't know what it would mean for us," Keirra admits. "But he was so kind, and I was shocked to learn that I was the first person to reach out to him."
When Keirra and Chris finally went to see the house in person, they were pleasantly surprised by its quality and condition. They quickly agreed to purchase it on the spot for $100,000. "It was a bit scary and risky, but we shook on it that day," Keirra recalls. "Buying a house on Gumtree is like buying a second-hand car. There's no due diligence or protection, so you just have to take the leap and figure out how to make it happen."
The couple paid an additional $50,000 to have the house cut in half, loaded onto a truck, and transported overnight to their farm by an experienced company. This cost also included restumping the home at its new location, but the council fees and permits added up to a total of around $200,000.
One of the most nerve-wracking parts of the relocation process was the fact that the house couldn't be insured while it was on the road. But despite their fears and the heavy rain that poured down during the move, everything went smoothly.
Since then, the house has been a labor of love for Keirra and Chris. They have been slowly renovating it over the years while raising their three children and managing the cattle breeding farm. "Right after the relocation, we repainted the house and made some adjustments to the floor plan to make it more open," Keirra shares. "We also added a new kitchen, guest room, and bathroom."
Now, their Queenslander house feels like it belongs on the farm, and Keirra considers being able to rescue a piece of history a truly special experience. Not only that, but buying a relocated Queenslander allowed them to own a home with high-quality timber finishes that they couldn't have afforded otherwise. "We had a builder visit recently, and he estimated that it would cost around $2 million to build the same house today, with all the timber work," Keirra reveals. "We took a risk, and it paid off. We feel lucky to have found this gem on Gumtree and brought it to our farm."
John Wright, who has been in the house relocation industry for decades and now runs the family business Queensland House Removers, confirms that business is booming. In addition to relocating properties, Wright also scouts and buys moveable homes to sell to customers. He says that more and more homebuyers are opting for relocatable homes because of their affordability.
"It's like getting a house at half the price of building a new one," Wright explains. "And the best part is, these homes have so much character and history. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved." So, thanks to pioneers like Keirra and Chris, the rescue, sale, and relocation of Queensland's iconic timber cottages have become a popular trend and a booming industry.
Keirra and Chris Massoud were excited when they bought their piece of farmland in the idyllic Mary Valley on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. It was a blank canvas, with no house or driveway in sight. Keirra had a unique vision for their new home - instead of building a modern house, she wanted an old Queenslander that would blend in with the beautiful countryside. Her husband was unsure about the idea, but Keirra was determined to make it happen. She scoured the internet for months, looking for a Queenslander that they could buy and move to their property. It was a challenging search, but finally, in 2017, she found their dream home on Gumtree.
The house was located in Narangba, Morton Bay, about 150 kilometres away from their farm. The owner had sold his property, but he was able to save his beloved 1930s Queenslander through an agreement with the developer. Keirra was immediately drawn to the house's charming facade, big verandah, and bull nose front. Despite having only five pictures to go off of, she knew it was the one for them. She was nervous to call the owner, but he turned out to be very friendly and happy to hear from her. He even said she was the first person to inquire about the house, which surprised Keirra.
When Keirra and Chris went to see the house in person, they were impressed with its quality and condition. They made an offer of $100,000 on the spot, and the owner agreed. It was a risky move, but they were determined to make it work. They paid an additional $50,000 to have the house cut in half, loaded onto a truck, and transported to their farm overnight. This cost did not include council fees and permits, which brought the total project cost to around $200,000. Despite the challenges and risks, the couple felt it was worth it to have their dream home.
One of the scariest parts of the relocation process was that the house couldn't be insured while it was on the road. However, the move went smoothly, even with the added challenge of heavy rain. Since then, Keirra and Chris have been slowly renovating the house, while also raising their three children and managing their cattle farm. They have repainted the house, updated the floor plan, and added a new kitchen, guest room, and bathroom. It has been a labor of love, and the couple is proud of the progress they have made.
Keirra and Chris feel that their Queenslander now belongs on their farm, and they are grateful to have been able to rescue a piece of history. They also appreciate the quality of the timber finishings in their home, which they would not have been able to afford in a new build. A builder even estimated that their house would cost around $2 million to build today. It was a risk, but it paid off in the end.
The house relocation industry has been booming in recent years, and John Wright, who runs Queensland House Removers, has been a part of it for decades. He helps customers relocate and purchase moveable properties, and he has seen a significant increase in demand for relocatable homes due to their affordability. Keirra and Chris were lucky to find their dream home on Gumtree, and they are grateful to have been able to make it their own. It has been a unique and special experience for them, and they are happy to have a beautiful, historic house on their farm for years to come.
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