* Rainforest retreat – 3 bed and large deck
* Established cool climate botanical gardens
* 3 x blocks, 2 street access, potential B & BThe sounds and calls of the busy chowchillas wake the forest at dawn, the catbird squawks – that is how the day begins at Crystalbrook. Crystalbrook was built in the late 1920s for a local Townsville GP and sits tucked away on Mt Spec-Ewan Road in the Paluma Township. The house is secreted away on 2656 square metres (3 blocks in an L shape) ), one at the front on Mt. Spec Road used as a rainforst entry and drive and 2 at the rear on Whalley Crescent on which the house straddles.The home has a small porch at the front overlooking lawns and the rainforest driveway, with a door leading into the main bedroom and another entering the living room. With polished timber floors throughout, the living area is very cozy and has a fireplace for the cooler climate. The second bedroom is set up dormatory style for visitors and has 2 x double decker bunks (sleeps 4). At the rear off the huge covered deck is an oversized 3rd bedroom / hobby or craft room (that could easily be converted into a kitchen should a new owner wish to set up a tea room with STA ) or perhaps a guest room for a Bed and Breakfast. Throughout the home you will find features such as tongue & grove kitchen cupboards, antique wash basin, push up windows. glass panel doors, brickwork, window awnings, timber rails and gabled roof.The present owners have maintained the cottage appeal by creating a cool climate high altitude garden. Taking advantage of the 3000′ elevation the property is ‘fenced’ by camelia hedges and the natural rainforest setting. Over 100 camelias have been planted to form the structure of the hedge and garden beds. Flowering in late autumn the camellia flowers note the change in the season heralding winter’s arrival and the impressive flowering magnolias. A magnificent Magnolia Negra Alexandrina is a feature of the garden this year producing 40 purple / cream flowers during the winter. Another 10 magnolias have been planted along with daphnia and many gardenias, agapanthus and clivias. Azeleas abound in shades of pink and vivid white. A number of native orchids dot the mature trees in this garden and there are 4 mature kauri pines located towards the Whalley Street access. It is believed these plants are at least 70 years old. A magical meeting place for rainforest birds is the feeder basket that hangs on the garden. Rifle birds, catbirds, bower birds, Lewin’s honeyeater to name a few provide a comical parade of eager participants at the feeder. The garden has been developed so that it has numerous rooms to enjoy. You suit yourself – take a cup of tea or a glass of wine and enjoy a different view taking in the wonderful blue sky or the burning stars at night. The house is original in its mountain character and is enhanced by the addition of a very large covered deck at the rear. Shaded by the deciduous persimmon tree, home to melami, the deck has provided shelter to party revellers and scrabble players and is a wonderful setting for a long lunch on a summer’s day. When the cloud decends upon Paluma Crystalbrook receives the drifting cloud that shrouds it and its garden in a veil of white. Typically it is the end of the day the temperature drops and the rainforest is silent that is until the owl and the frogs and the white-tail come out to play…Other activities in the area are, bushwalks and lookouts, birdwatching, Rainforest Inn Licenced Resturant, Paluma Dreaming Takeaway (weekends only) , Crystal Creek Bridge swimming and picnic area, Paluma Dam recreational area, Community Centre and Hidden Valley.