LEAP OF FAITH
IT WASN’T THEIR FIRST CHOICE, BUT A BRICK HOUSE WITH VALLEY VIEWS PROVED THE PERFECT FIT FOR CANUNGRA DUO NIKKI AND LUKE HOBBS.
Nikki and Luke Hobbs took a gamble on a Canungra property, but their hard work and vision have paid off.
SOMETIMES, WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, another opens, as was the case for Luke and Nikki Hobbs of Canungra in south-east Queensland. Six years ago, the pair had their hearts set on a colonial weatherboard cottage, just down the road from where they now live, but they narrowly missed out on purchasing it.
They’d hoped to live along Lamington National Park Road, due to its pretty location tucked against the range and Canungra Creek, so instead turned their attention to a brick, 1990s-era house on two hectares, which had been on the market for more than a year.
In a bold move, the couple made an offer, sight unseen. “We settled on this very overgrown five acres,” Nikki, 35, recalls. “But Luke had a vision for the property when he saw it; this section of the creek is quite secluded and the valley is stunning.”
Keen surfers, Nikki and Luke had considered Kingscliff and Canungra for either a beach or country change from their busy city life in Brisbane. Luke, 39, had always longed to move to the country and own some cows. Canungra appealed due to its proximity to the Gold Coast (just 30 kilometres to the east) as well as Brisbane, an hour away. Nikki’s stepfather Dave, a retired paramedic, had been posted in Canungra for a time, so the Hobbses were familiar with the village in the foothills of Lamington National Park.
“We fell in love with this area – it’s the rural aspect, and all the wineries and produce are right at our doorstep,” says Nikki.
As owners of Hobbs Building & Interiors, Luke and Nikki had the confidence to consider the location first, then transform or start over with the brick house. They initially considered tearing it down, but moved in just before Christmas in 2015. “It was horrible, but we’re used to purchasing run-down properties,” Nikki adds, who with Luke had “bought and flipped” many homes across Brisbane and Airlie Beach.
They weren’t daunted by the prospect of another project, despite some challenges. “Because the grass was so overgrown, there was a stack of red-bellied black snakes and brown snakes when we cleared it,” Nikki recalls.
Renovation won out over a new build and the couple spent the first few years on earthworks in preparation for their wedding at the property. The previous owners had created terraces for hydroponic tomato and strawberry production above the creek bank, and Luke and Nikki painstakingly stripped back the grass and lantana that had run rampant.
In October 2017, the couple said their wedding vows on a cantilevered ceremony deck overlooking the creek, surrounded by family and friends. >
Two years ago, Nikki and Luke turned their hand to the house, first gutting the interior and removing the carpet. “We prioritised necessity over aesthetic to start with and focused on electrical and flooring, then the kitchen cabinetry and paint,” Nikki says. The former aubergine walls, skirting and cornice with maroon skirting was transformed with Dulux Natural White on the walls, and Vivid White for the trim. Aluminium windows were soon replaced with timber, and a pair of barn doors instantly transformed the shed. The couple opted for a modern country style and applied many of their trade tips to create character in the home. They used wider, 138mm colonial skirtings throughout and laid down vinyl timber flooring.
Nikki advises that key items to spend money on include door profiles, glazing and investing in French linen bedsheets, while she suggests you can save with tile selections, using Ikea robe inserts, and landscaping with seedlings and tube stock, rather than established plants.
Since moving to Canungra and establishing Hobbs Building & Interiors, Nikki has reignited her love of styling. “My nan, Berice, had beautiful interiors and I always wanted to be an interior designer,” she says.
Marketing and project management skills gained in a former corporate career are now integral in the business as Nikki and Luke help others create their dream spaces. “We specialise in eco-friendly, off-grid projects and the Scenic Rim is perfect for that construction,” Nikki says.
Their move to the country has opened further creative opportunities: Nikki created a homewares line that includes upholstered lounge chairs, ottomans, ceramic tiles, stone bathtubs and handbasins. Their property, Platypus Valley – named for the shy creatures which can be spotted each morning and afternoon – is also available as a location for professional photo shoots.
Meanwhile, Luke has realised his dream to own stock, with two cows gifted from friends in Roma, and Nikki’s childhood pony Rosé, a 39-year-old palomino, is spending her golden years by the creek, with loving care from both Nikki and her mother Lisa, a veterinarian. “This rural transition has been a blessing in both our personal and professional lives,” Nikki says. “We have an amazing sense of community and are so grateful to live here.”
For more information, visit hobbsbuilding.com.au or follow @hobbsbuildingandinteriors; @platypus.valley
“We fell in love with this area – it’s the rural aspect, and all the wineries and produce are right at our doorstep.”