Private and secluded, this South Mission beach shack tells the story of a local artist's timber cottage with plenty of history and wonderful memories still on display.

The timber hut takes in stunning elevated views of Dunk and the Family Islands and has an a-frame, open plan design, with the living area sharing the bedroom, and separate bathroom sharing the laundry. 

The owner’s son told WILLIAMS MEDIA the shack was the long-term home of potter Eric Chester who came across the headland site while visiting artist Noel Wood, who famously lived on Bedarra Island in the late 1970s. 

Eric enlisted local builder Geoff Grainger who understood his vision for a simple hut for his potters studio. Together, the men built the sturdy home using local timbers from the Tully Sawmill, with a potters wheel and kiln tucked under the verandah. Eric’s pots sold as soon as they were made, through the well-known Bingil Bay Gallery and through Bruce Arthur’s Gallery on Dunk Island. 

For almost 40 years Eric enjoyed his sunset red wine on the deck overlooking Dunk, regularly taking his little dinghy out to Bedarra to share red wine and stories with Wood. Over the years cyclones hit the Mission Beach area and the hut has always withstood the weather.

eric_chester.jpg

Image: Eric Chester at the beach hut. Supplied.

Plenty of parties have been hosted at the home, with many friends and girlfriends visiting the ageing potter over the years. But one local family has been visiting for generations. After Cyclone Winifred in 1986, locals were encouraged to establish cassowary feeding stations. Eric did this in front of the hut and a male cassowary started visiting. The young male continued to visit after the feeding stations were closed, bringing his first clutch of chicks to visit. This became a daily visit, with little active feeding but with the cassowaries taking a liking to the bananas and other fruit Eric had growing in his thriving tropical garden. Over the years cassowary dad has passed on the visit to one of his sons who now brings his chicks for an almost daily visit. No one knows whether this is second or third generation of cassowary, but only days before Eric moved to his nursing home, the cassowary father and his chicks came for a visit, a last farewell for Eric from his mates as he left his beloved hut.

9_mitchell_street_south_mission_beach_qld_4852.png

Agent Tania Steele told WILLIAMS MEDIA, “This is one of the most stunning views I've seen off South Mission Beach. It's extremely basic but that's all you need when you have those incredible views that steal the show.”

Best offers are invited by 15 July 2019.

See more of 9 Mitchell Street South Mission Beach QLD 4852, including additional photos, location map and inspection times, on The Home Page.

To arrange a private inspection or enquire about a price guide phone or email Tania Steele of Tropical Property via this link.

See more luxury Queensland real estate:

The (W)right House: architect’s own designer tropical retreat 

Sunshine Beach haven offers epitome of Noosa living

The Palms: Hinterland oasis on the Sunshine Coast