Brisbane man's vision of the 'Queenslander 2.0' hits the market in Red Hill

A strikingly modern Queenslander has hit the Brisbane property market, offering a new twist on the tried and popular design principles of the traditional northern homes.

Darren White, owner of 37 Mornington Street, aimed to rethink the Queenslander design from the ground up. “It was just: let’s build a timber house with a tin roof and make sure it catches the breezes,” he said.

By taking basic design principles and reworking them into a modern design, Mr White said his house was an way of changing what people thought of the classic Queenslander.

“It’s not traditional, he said. “It’s the Queenslander plus plus, or 2.0.”

Aside from the exaggerated red cedar timber cladding and tin roofs visible from the street, the home also features a number of traditional Queenslander features, such as high ceilings, big decks, breezeways and a gabled roof.

Space property principal Judi O’Dea said the house was a step forward for the treasured Queenslander design. “It’s a special project, he’s thought a lot about this,” she said. “It’s got such a modern feel.”

“It’s a great country house in the city.”

Mr White completed the build a year ago and had been living in the home with his partner since. Ms O’Dea said the three-level, four-bedroom house could accommodate many more.

“Families, but probably someone with a little bit older kids,” she said.

“Maybe someone who wants a bit of separation of living.

“It could be a fabulous teenage retreat, it could be for a guest, or it could be an Airbnb or rental.”

Mr White was selling because he wanted to build another new house, and while he’s not a builder by trade, he’s already thinking about his next project.

“It’s been a long project … I think with the next one, I’ll get into the building a lot more.”  

The house will be auctioned at the end of April.