Jaw-droppingly gorgeous Norman Park dream home hits the market

Angela and Austin Ward had only been dating for a few weeks when he took her for a drive down a little-known Norman Park street and pointed out an old boat yard.

“He said to me that if that block of land ever came up for sale, he’d buy it,” Ms Ward said.

“I sort of looked at him and said, ‘yeah, whatever’ and laughed and didn’t think about it again. But we ended up together – and we ended up buying the land too, a number of years later.”

Positioned in a peaceful and private street on the edge of East Brisbane, it’s not hard to see what drew Austin Ward to the site all those years ago. A sprawling 1087 square-metre block that hugs the curve of Norman Creek, its expansive water frontage and tree-fringed setting is not just unique, but also incredibly beautiful.

The couple, now parents to three boys, enlisted the services of acclaimed Brisbane architect Fraser Spencer and built a luxury three-level home which manages to be as relaxed as it is elegant.

Balancing architectural elements and luxury specifications with liveability was critical, Ms Ward said.

“This had to be a family home. With three boys, I needed it to be functional as well as beautiful, somewhere we could live in easily and comfortably,” she said.

Goal achieved. The Wards’ property is jaw-droppingly gorgeous: from the soaring ceiling void in the main living area, to the banks of floor-to-ceiling glass that frame the water views and lush landscaped gardens, to the sumptuous master suite – it is light-filled, uplifting and distinctly opulent.

And yet it is innately laid back. A boardwalk which stretches from the front of the house through to the back entertaining area and out to the private jetty and pontoon gives it the feel of being on permanent holiday. The pool, a stunning curved creation, provides the perfect foreground to the creek behind, which wraps its way around the entire back and side of the property.

Once home to some of Brisbane’s boat builders, the property still bears some hallmarks of its history, including the original boat yard slip way, which the Ward family use to access the creek for boating and kayaking.

“It’s a wonderful lifestyle here and a great local community. Our boys have a tinny which they take up and down the creek and go fishing, visit their friends – it’s been a great place for them to grow up,” Ms Ward said.

The property is, in fact, a veritable paradise for kids and teens. Aside from the aquatic playground on the doorstep, there is the entire ground level of the house which is dedicated to recreational space, with a home gym, workshop and insane games room featuring multiple flat screen TVs, relaxation zones and kids sports storage.

A bespoke dining room, climate-controlled wine cellar and bar on the same level provides adults with their own adjoining space.

Other highlights of the property include four bedrooms, fully equipped cinema room with one-way glass, stunning guest room with river views, private children’s retreat and extensive storage throughout.

After nine years, the Ward family have got the itch to build again but they’re not going far – they’ve purchased another block fronting the same creek.

“We love the lifestyle here. We’ll miss this house — it’s been so easy to live in — but we look forward to staying in the neighbourhood,” Ms Ward said.

61 Gillan Street is within walking distance of the Brisbane River, local private schools and boutique cafes and restaurants. The CBD is three kilometres away.

61 Gillan Street, Norman Park

Five bedrooms, four bathrooms, two car spaces

Expressions of interest: invited by close of business, December 19
Inspection: by appointment only
Agent: James Curtain, Place Bulimba 0404 056 564