A slice of Main Beach family history goes to auction

ONE of the last family beach homes along the sun-soaked Main Beach strip on the Gold Coast will head to auction later this month.

The 402sqm home at 3517 Main Beach Parade has been in the Stavrou family since 1971 but will now pass to new owners with the help of Ray White Surfers Paradise agent Robert Graham.

Mr Graham called it a “rare opportunity” as there are only three holiday beach homes left on Main Beach Parade, which has become popular with apartment developers. He is expecting fierce competition from buyers, following the sale of one of the three - the 458sqm home at 3573 Main Beach Parade which netted $7,300,000 last October.

The seller, Melpa Stavrou and her husband first found the cottage when they were walking along the beach from Narrowneck while on holiday. What followed could almost be out of a movie resulting in the couple securing their dream weekender shortly after.

“We were in love the moment we saw it. As soon as we saw it standing alone on the beach, we knew it had to be ours,” Mrs Stavrou said.

“We placed a note under the door hoping to pique the owner’s interest, and sure enough, we finally made the cottage our weekend home in March of 1971.

“As soon as we walked through the front door the very next day and saw the ocean, we knew we had found a gem. For 50 years, it has been a piece of paradise for our family.”

As Mrs Stavrou’s children began to have families of their own, the couple made the decision to ease into retirement at Main Beach permanently.

“Our grandchildren were able to enjoy the house too, so the place is very sentimental to us. We’ve built so many memories there that it’s become a piece of all of us,” she said.

Her son, John Stavrou, said now the family is ready to move on, they hope the new owners will be able to build the same memories they did so they can have their own unique slice of paradise.

His brother Anthony Stavrou also reminisced about the wonderful holidays they spent in the house as a family.

“New Year’s Eve was always a highlight. All we would have to do is walk to the end of the backyard and view the Main Beach and Coolangatta fireworks,” Mr Stavrou said.

“Being able to toast with your family and friends over a bottle of champagne in those moments was something really special.”

Their sister, Efty Stavrou, added that there was never a dull moment and during every holiday event the place was filled with family, friends and lots of parties.

The auction will take place at 6pm on January 28 at the Sheraton Mirage Resort as part of the Ray White Surfers Paradise prestige auction event. The auction night will follow on from the annual Ray White Surfers Paradise “The Event” auction day on January 24 in which more than 100 properties are set to sell under the hammer.