Students to reap benefits of Boathouse buy
THE boat, or rather The Boathouse, has gone out for Consolidated Properties chairman Don O’Rorke at Salt Village at Kingscliff.
Mr O’Rorke, whose group was the developer of the nearby Casuarina beachfront community, has sold the building and boat ramp that his family has owned for the past seven years to Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School.
No price has been disclosed for the property, which is a five-minute walk from the Salt beach and involves a building on an 814 sqm site with direct access to Cudgen Creek and adjoining public reserve.
Mr O’Rorke yesterday said his family no longer was using The Boathouse, where they had stored canoes and paddleboards, after several years of leisure enjoyment from it.
It was marketed via Tony Holland, of McGrath, and drew several offers, including the one from Lindisfarne, which is based at Tweed Heads and Terranora. Mr O’Rorke said Lindisfarne was not the highest bidder but his family was keen to sell to the school as a legacy to be enjoyed by its students.
Lindisfarne school principal Stuart Marquardt said they were very grateful they had been allowed to purchase the world-class property.
“We couldn’t match the bids of commercial parties but we’re very grateful Mr O’Rorke could see the benefits ... and was prepared to accept a lower bid,” he said.
“We have an extensive water program at the school and we wanted to be a centre of excellence and have marine studies and environmental education.”