LIFT YOUR LIFESTYLE

This low-maintenance ‘executive entertainer’ with panoramic views, close to the heart of Cairns, offers year-round indoor-outdoor living

DREAMS of waterfront living were put aside as love at second sight meant the owners of this inner-city Cairns home just weren’t ready for goodbye.

But 12 years after renovating 30 Koppen Terrace, Mooroobool, Cairns lawyer Mark Peters and wife Jodi have reluctantly listed their fourbedroom home.

However, if it wasn’t for personal circumstances, the property would have been further extended.

“We needed a bigger house because we’ve got two young boys. They’re robust young blokes and they’re into rock music, and they’ve got all their equipment,” Mr Peters said.

“We just needed a bit more room for them.

“So we were going to build up. We had all the plans done up and a builder engaged.

“And then my wife, Jodi, got breast cancer. So (in) the last 12 months, she’s been having treatment. So we decided we didn’t want do the full renovation.”

The Peters Bosel law firm principal and his family purchased a bigger house at City View, continuing their love affair with Mooroobool.

That desire for an inner-city lifestyle came after they completed renovations at 30 Koppen Terrace 12 years ago, a former investment home.

“The renovation was to maximise the outdoor living area, looking to gain maximum benefit of the view,” Mr Peters said.

“What we wanted was a big, open-plan, breezy living area, and being able to enjoy the view from as many parts of the house as possible. Cairns is a hot place but when you get all this breeze through, you just naturally feel comfortable there. Sometimes something just functions well and it feels right – it worked for us.”

On a street where properties are tightly held, the house labelled an “executive entertainer” features a massive alfresco dining patio, perfect for indoor-outdoor living.

With everything on one level, this elevated property has two king-sized bedrooms with ensuites, making it perfect for guests.

Belle Property agent Vanessa Robinson said it was “one of the easiest to live in” houses she’d ever listed.

“It’s a low-maintenance property and you’ve got that fabulous living area and so you could easily entertain with 30-40 people there and not feel crowded,” she said.

“It’s elevated, so you can catch the breeze and enjoy the view. We know in Cairns that it rains a lot and it’s hot a lot. So this massive patio is just great, because you’re still outside but you’re still undercover. You’ve got that ease of outdoorindoor living.”

Mr Peters said when his family first renovated the property, the plan was to live there for 12-18 months and then sell.

“We were going to develop another block of land at Clifton Beach, but ended up loving it so much, being so close to the city, we just stayed there 12 years,” he said.

He’d moved from Sydney’s northern beaches to Cairns about 30 years ago after a holiday at Palm Cove.

The serenity and lifestyle of Cairns’ northern beaches had the Peters fixed on a dream beachfront property.

“We moved to live at Clifton Beach because it’s such a beautiful part of the world and lived there for about 18 years. Then finally I was able to afford the dream waterfront block at Palm Cove and had all the plans in place,” Mr Peters said.

“But then we came into town, did this renovation at Mooroobool and ended up loving living here.”

He said the property, which won a Master Builders renovation award in 2009, would suit a young family or even a couple looking to retire and enjoy a “functional” property with easy access all on one level.