Daintree rainforest at its best

Sunshine Coast-based marine engineer James Kerr has owned his own slice of the world’s oldest living rainforest for almost 20 years. He said now was the right time to pass on custodianship of his, not one but two, secluded homes at 38 Stonewood Road, Daintree in far north Queensland.

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“I worked and travelled the world for 15 years and never once found a place like this. It’s rare, unique and irreplaceable. There’s total privacy with more than 13,000sqm of pristine 160 million year old rainforest under World Heritage protection,” Mr Kerr said.

“It’s the hardest decision I’ll ever make in my life to sell but my wife and I want to make another round the world sailing trip on our 50ft catamaran. However I know I will never be able to replace it,” he said.

“A botanist surveyed the land and told me there’s plant species here that don’t exist anywhere else in the world.”

Mr Kerr said he first discovered the Daintree in the 1980s after working in Europe and America. The marine engineer built his own hydro-electric power plant so the properties were totally “off the grid” with its own water and power source, no need for a generator.

“All the energy comes from the creek. It’s priceless.”

The two established holiday lettings have a turnover history exceeding $110,000 per annum.

Marketing agent Steve Doble of Ray White Port Douglas said the property was “simply peace on earth”.

“This stunning property has a spring fed creek with waterfalls from two spring waterways which meander across these giant granite boulders which age-match the world's oldest living rainforest,” Mr Doble said.

“The Douglas Shire real estate market is experiencing the highest sell through rate and lowest time on market in 15 years. Many transactions are based on buyers escaping larger populated areas, moving to smaller regional locations, especially with considerations that covid is less active in warmer tropical climates.

“The Daintree is obviously the world’s oldest living rainforest, the crown of north Queensland. Low human footprints and self-sufficiency is key to living in this environment, to be able to sell such a pristine water source from such a clean, low impact, protected location is virtually unprecedented.

“If the stunningly private rainforest and waterfall setting is not enough then considerable income may be derived via either or both homes that have enjoyed a very strong holiday let guest following and history.”

“Add to this is the currently unharnessed income opportunity of pure rainforest water. The property also includes a brand new purpose built, fully sealed 6m x 6m, 4.5m high bottling shed with some bottling stock and business registered Daintree rainforest spring water labelling.”

The property comes with a full licence for 18 million litres per annum of bottled pure rainforest water from the world's most renowned rainforest environment. The 2018 Queensland state issued water permit lasts 90 years until 2111 at the rate of 100,000 litres per day or 18 million litres per annum.

Two private hidden homes are on the property. Water supply is completely natural and power requirements are also delivered by the natural environment via both hydroelectric and solar panel systems overcoming any need for fossil fuelled generators, leaving a zero pollution footprint. Cooking and water heating is via bottled gas delivered to the properties.

Just two hours north of Cairns , one hour north of Port Douglas and set at 80 metres above sea level, this is Queensland's third highest mountain feeding the network of private freshwater and spring water streams.

The preparation of this property has taken an exacting 20 years of meticulous, environmental best practice to deliver impeccable natural opportunities for the very special new owner or owners that respect when "special uniqueness" is beyond every normal level or any other property offerings.

The property goes to auction at 10am on September 18 at Hemingway’s Brewery, Crystalbrook Marina, Port Douglas.

At a glance

• 13,000sqm of natural rainforest

• Two joining water courses meander through the property

• Crystal clear swimming holes

• Numerous aerating natural waterfalls

• Naturally powered 24/7 by hydro-electric and solar

• First time offered for sale in 20 years