End of an era for Carmel
Historic homestead hits market
NOT many Gold Coasters can say they have a street named after them but Carmel Thompson has that honour.
The vendor of one of Gilston’s last remaining homesteads – a classic cedar chalet and adjacent parcel of land at Carmel Cl – will leave a lasting impression after the developer of what is now Banksia Ridge Estate named the street after its original resident.
“I didn’t know about it. I came back from overseas ... I was just thrilled, nobody expects that sort of thing,” she said.
Mrs Thompson has witnessed the suburb transform since she decided to subdivide the land she snapped up while on holiday on the Gold Coast from Sydney in 1987.
“When we got to the gate at the entrance there was a big white sign post over the gate with the name ‘Boongala’. I fell in love with it immediately,” Mrs Thompson said. She found out the meaning of the name “over a beer at Nerang Hotel”; it means “shady meeting place of the village elders”.
Mrs Thompson was careful to preserve what native trees she could as the property was first used for agistment, then a single-level stilt house was built, before it was moved and altered.
Today, it sprawls over three levels with dual living. The dam and thick cloister of trees have been replaced by new homes, but it was development Mrs Thompson welcomed.
“With the opening of the Nerang Railway Station with direct links to Brisbane families started moving into the area and the opportunity was there to subdivide,” she said.
In 2011, Mrs Thompson and two immediate neighbours sold their parcels of land which were then developed into Banksia Ridge Estate, now comprising over 100 homes.
“My neighbours left their homes behind to be knocked down but I refused to give up my Boongala Homestead,” said Mrs Thompson.
At 73-years-old, the the vocational educator and former army wife is looking to downsize.
It will set a suburb record if it sells for its asking price of offers over $1.499 million, more than three decades after the three ha vacant block was bought for $100,000. Hers is not the only home to be listed for sale on Carmel Cl with two neighbouring investment properties on the market.
CoreLogic property data shows Gilston’s median house price has increased by 40.3 per cent over the past five years.
“This property in particular has so much history to it and that’s what makes it so special,” marketing agent Evan McCann of @realty said.