Lyrebird House

This is a new listing for the whole house, with new management. The previous listing had been for the studio only with a rating of 4.89 and copies of reviews have been included. Joalah is an Aboriginal word which means ‘haunt of the lyrebird’. This exceptional house is set against a backdrop of protected rainforest that is also home to this elusive bird. A beautiful home-from-home, the whole house provides the perfect place to slow down, listen to the birds and relax with family or friends.

The house sits within a beautiful, landscaped garden and is nestled into the forest edge that rises behind. The house climbs the slope from the quiet green street up to the towering trees of the protected rainforest environment behind. Here the lyrebird may be heard, with a legendary song that mimics other sounds.

Architecturally, the timber house has been sensitively designed into the landscape setting. Layers of covered decks to the front and rear of the house provide a variety of places to sit, relax and enjoy the sound of birds and the silence between. They extend the generous character of the house and provide distinctive spill-out spaces, to enable you to either find some space alone or be together in the many social spaces – inside and out.

The walls of the house are hung with a variety of distinctive original artworks in oil and watercolour. They provide a truly unique, indulgent and memorable setting for your time on the Mountain.

The sun rises over the Gold Coast to the East and filtered morning sunlight shines into the front of the house through mature trees and palms. The timber of the house sits beautifully and sympathetically within the rainforest environment. The interior has a visual warmth that comes from the natural timber materials and finishes. It is a large house, beautifully crafted, with a great combination of connected open living areas and secluded private spaces. The visual warmth and distinctive architectural mid-century feel of the house is complemented with a wood-burner to deliver real warmth in the cooler winter months.

A luxurious and indulgent home-from-home, the house has everything you need for a memorable mountain break or some time away with family or friends. By day the home offers expansive views into the landscape and at dusk the interior and external lighting transforms the forest, palms and ferns into an exceptional environment of natural beauty and dramatic forms. There are views framed through every window to the special landscape setting.

Connected split-level living spaces on the top floor open onto the expansive rainforest deck to the rear, and the dining deck at the front. The upper front deck also has a great seating area that spills out from the master bedroom. There is a fully equipped kitchen with conventional and steam ovens, a large gas hob, double fridge/freezer and ice making. The comfortable sunken lounge space (below the level of the kitchen and dining) has a wood burner, wall-mounted TV, Bluetooth soundbar and luxurious rug. The generous dining space features a polished timber table made from recovered Queensland hardwood. There is character lighting throughout.

The downstairs includes a large second living space (the studio) that functions as a great get-away space for watching a movie, playing games or some time out. It has a large TV and soundbar, leather sofas and eating area. The downstairs can also function well as a connected but self-contained space (ideal for grandparents or older children), as it has a kitchenette, separate bedroom, bathroom and open living space – all with a large separate front deck with an extensive covered area. The lower deck opens into gardens at the front of the house within the landscape setting and has a large dining table with bench seats in addition to chairs for relaxing, grouped around a distinctive hanging light. The front deck has downlights and deck lights that are part of the beautiful, illuminated character of the home and garden within the landscape setting.

Accommodation:
There are four generous double bedrooms, all with queen double beds. A master bedroom (the blue room) with ensuite opens onto the front deck. A large rainforest bedroom (the green room) occupies the highest point in the house. This bedroom shares the beautiful bathroom with the third bedroom (the red room). The fourth bedroom (the grey room) is adjacent to the third bathroom, located on the ground floor. An additional room can function as a fifth bedroom or study, with a king single (and with an additional single tucked under for either twin singles or placed together as an additional double – ideal if you need an overspill space for children).
All of the high-quality timber doors and windows have integrated insect screens to provide complete interior protection from bugs. There are stairs due to the setting and the house is not generally suitable for people with reduced mobility.

The Blue Room (Sky) – Bedroom 1
The Blue Room is the master bedroom with an ensuite and bi-fold doors that open onto the front deck, with dedicated seating and views. The blue room has a distinctive wall of feature wallpaper, with references to the birdlife of the forest, built-in wardrobes and a dressing table.

The Green Room (Forest) – Bedroom 2
This room almost places you in the forest. This large room has a tall sloping ceiling, a character ceiling fan, plenty of space and a wall of glass that opens onto the private and secluded rainforest setting. Large glass doors slide open onto the cool air and distinctive soundtrack of the rainforest environment. Wake with the light of the new day or close the blinds for a dark and cosy sleep. Sit in the comfortable chairs and enjoy the setting. Shafts of sunlight fall through the canopy to highlight a deep landscape of mature trees, rocks and ferns that rises up and away from the house. There are built-in wardrobes and dressing table, in addition to 3-seat sofa and chair.

The Red Room (Red mountain earth) – Bedroom 3
Bedroom 3 is another generous double room, with a dressing table, seat and built-in wardrobes. There are relaxing views through the full height windows over and into the tree canopy and palms that are the setting for the house.
Bathroom
The bathroom has a fully glazed wall with discrete views into the relaxed forest setting. The stand-alone bath overlooks the forest view. There is a large shower and double basins. For those wanting privacy there is an electric blind (remote controlled). There is electric underfloor heating in the bathroom that is pre-set in winter to provide warmth through the floor tiles in the morning and evening.

The Grey Room (Bark) – Bedroom 4
The grey room takes inspiration from the many warm grey tones of the tree bark of the many trees fringing the house. It is located between the hallway and the second living space on the ground floor. It has a queen double bed and light timber flooring. It is adjacent to the ground floor bathroom that includes a toilet, shower and double basins.

Rear Deck:
The rear deck is the primary outdoor feature of this distinctive forest home. There is space to relax around a low table, a table for informal eating adjacent to the kitchen window, and an exceptional backdrop of the forest edge and planting. At the end of winter there is a narrow window of time when fireflies emerge and the forest edge is animated with small blinking lights just after dusk.

Fire Pit:
The front garden is a great evening venue. There is a fire pit and a star-gazing seat built into the curved decking bench. Camping chairs in the garage provide additional seating for an evening by the fire (please note that firewood is not supplied). Please note that fire restrictions are sometimes in place due to the level of fire risk, so please check restrictions in advance.

For your visit:
During colder periods we provide a supply of wood for the wood burner that is sufficient for the first night (and perhaps enough for a second, depending on use). This enables you to warm the house up for a cosy first night. We do not provide wood for the fire pit or for use beyond the initial wood burner fire, but this can be purchased in a number of locations nearby (if you do not come equipped). The wood burner has instructions in the welcome pack for efficient heating. Due to the construction of the building we do not allow real candles, but battery alternatives are provided for your use.

The Studio and bedroom 4 have underfloor heating and in colder periods this will be activated in the morning and evening. The air conditioning units can provide additional heat and/or cooling if required. We seek to be as environmentally responsible and energy efficient as possible in our rainforest setting, so please – with the lyrebirds in mind – use them considerately.

Water:
Tamborine Mountain is the largest community in Australia without a town water supply. We rely entirely on rainwater tanks for the water supply, so please conserve water. Drinking water is naturally filtered and safe to drink (and doesn’t taste of chemicals!).

Similarly, we have a septic tank for all wastewater. Please do not flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilets as this may block the system.
We provide a supply of pods for the Nespresso coffee machine to get you going. There should also be heaps of teabags. The fully-equipped kitchen has a range of herbs and spices and a few other basics to make it as user-friendly as possible, and there are plenty of places to eat and drink on the Mountain. There should be ice in the freezer.

Parking:
There is covered space for three cars. There is a large double garage just above the level of the front garden. An additional car port is attached to the house, up a sloping driveway. This provides level access to the house via the laundry (back door) or front door – along the covered entrance deck.

Temperature:
Tamborine Mountain is a special environment and a striking and diverse eco-system. It is typically up to seven degrees cooler than Brisbane or the Gold Coast and the temperature can drop to zero on the coldest winter nights. Please come prepared for a great seasonal experience!

Guest access:
We are located within c.25min walking distance of The Cauldron – a new local award-winning gin distillery on top of the hill. Our road is a quiet cul-de-sac. You can park on the street directly outside in addition to 2 garage spaces, the car port and driveway. The local IGA is c.7mins drive away and Gallery Walk, Main Street, markets and various cellar doors (Witches Falls is a local favourite) and restaurants are a similar distance.
Tamborine is a great base for walking in the many national parks in the area. The Gold Coast is also c.45mins away by car.

We ask that you please be mindful of water usage during your stay as it is all tank water and under NO circumstances can you flush anything besides toilet paper down the toilet as it is a septic system.

Please be aware the property is NOT a party house and will be strictly adhered to. Please be considerate of neighbours and restrict noise after 10pm. If excessive noise does occur, we will be notified.

Disclaimer: We have in preparing this information used our best endeavours to ensure that the information contained herein is true and accurate, however we accept no responsibility and disclaim all liability in respect of any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or misstatements that may occur. Prospective vendors, purchasers & tenants should make their own enquiries to verify the information contained herein.

Property ID: 1317982