‘Koreelah’ - An Early Craftsman in the Byron Bay Hinterland - Lists for $5m+
The Byron Bay market perpetually has at least a dozen properties lurking on the market with $4m+ expectations with these properties typically falling into two categories: beachfront properties on less than an acre of land or hinterland estates of 10+ acres. One characteristic almost all these properties have in common is a similar vintage. Luxury properties in Byron Bay are almost uniformly new (or built within the last several decades) and commonly feature ‘neo-Balinese’ architectural treatments. So when the Radical Terrace spotted a c1905 Craftsman home emerge on the market with $5m+ expectations we took more than just a cursory glance. Koreelah is located a few minutes outside of town on Skinners Shoot (in what is either considered Ewingsdale or Skinners Shoot) and was built for the McGettigan family (“one of Byron’s oldest families” according to listing agent Nicollete van Wijngaarden). The home sits on 10 acres (an adjoining parcel of 100 acres is also offered for sale). Although little information of Koreelah’s history is available online, the current state of the home either implies an immaculately well-maintained home or a recent refurbishment so sympathetic the Radical Terrace can’t spot any reason to believe why it wouldn’t be straight out of its 1905 construction (save for the college dorm-like showers in the bathroom). Not only is the home an early and rare example of a Craftsman in the Byron Bay area, the home is contemporaneous with the Pasadena-based work of Greene & Greene, the patriarchs of the Craftsman style. How the architect of Koreelah was so well-versed in the style at such an early date is beyond us, but we’re not complaining one bit. This style of home didn’t enter the popular architectural vernacular in Australia for another decade. Bonus points for the wrap-around verandah and savvy use of coffered ceilings, wood panelled walls, and Greene & Greene-like fireplace stonework. Points removed for a lack of water views: it’s a holiday home after all! The 5-bedroom home typically rents for $1,500 per week.
The listing: ‘Koreelah’, Skinners Point/Ewingsdale
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