THE owners of the Alkira mansion in the Daintree rainforest in Far North Queensland, have decided to auction it next month without a reserve price.

Designed by noted architect Charles Wright and resembling something out of Star Wars, the concrete structure floating on its own lake has been up for sale for nearly three years by its owners, stamp collector Rod Perry and his wife, Marider.

And according to a report in the Financial Review, nearly every Port Douglas agent has had a go at selling the remote six-bedroom home near Cape Tribulation with its asking price fluctuating wildly from $8.5 million to $14 million, before the owners cut it back to $8.8 million in June last year in the hope of finding a buyer.

Selling agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden, from Unique Estate, told the Review that Alkira would be sold on November 30 to whoever made the highest offer.
Alkira sits on its own lake in the Daintree.

“The owners want to move on so Alkira will sell on the day,” said Ms van Wijngaarden. The auction will be held on the Gold Coast with phone bidding expected.

Port Douglas and the Daintree took a hammering after the global financial crisis with prices falling 30-40 per cent as the traditional buyer market for trophy homes - wealthy expats and interstate buyers and high net worth retirees - disappeared.

Ms van Wijngaarden told the Review that Port Douglas and surrounding tropical far north housing market was improving, noting the recent sale of concrete Port Douglas bungalow The Edge, also designed by Charles Wright. “Things are starting to turn,” she said.

The Edge sold, but only after being on the market for 18 months with its reported $4.8 million selling price a 35 per cent reduction on its original $7.4 million asking price. 

The Edge at Port Douglas sold for about $4.8m.