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A one-of-a-kind ‘sports house’ will be auctioned in Port Douglas on October 4. The house at 6484 Captain Cook Highway, Port Douglas contains the ultimate kids backyard including horse stables, a soccer field, cricket nets, a treehouse and a 14m magnesium pool.
Created by two architects for their five children the home was designed for a multitude of family sporting activities.
Owner and architect Targa Jenkins said the house design was inspired by the Cat Stephens song ‘Where do the children play?’
“After many years living in London I came to Port Douglas and jumped at the opportunity to design a big backyard on an acre,” Mr Jenkins said.
“The spatial goal was to encourage the kids onto the back deck and to play outside which means less screen time in bedrooms.
“An upside was our kids became very proficient at sports with many of them performing very well at a state and national level in sports including cricket, soccer, cross country and triathlon.
“Sadly, that is why we are moving south because a couple of our kids have been offered sports scholarships in Brisbane and Melbourne.”
The property has been renovated twice in the last decade with sensitivity to the layers of the home’s history. For example, the floors contain native rainforest timbers including silky oak, red cedar and maple silkwood from the original ‘cane barracks’ built in 1914.
The property is also landscaped with the native rainforest timbers from which the original house was built. The property contains a small native timber nursery which makes use of the home’s excellent bore which also enables the occupants to easily grow their own food.
The house will be auctioned by marketing agent Steve Doble of Ray White Port Douglas on October 4.
