A beautiful gold gilt mirror hung timelessly on the yellowed wall
A second bathroom was splayed with flowered wallpaper which I remembered from the seventies. Bright blue bathroom accessories completed the look.
We were finally hooked...
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Rest of the Bavarian Cottage
Ahead of us lay a large room with striped yellowed wallpaper and leafy wall to wall carpet. Littered around the room were small tables covered in flowered plastic tablecloths. A massive sideboard handpainted in red and green stretched across the one wall. Against a window was an old fashioned sewing machine stand with 'Wertheim' in wrought iron written below it. On top of this a mismatched modern sewing machine sat.
A beautiful gold gilt mirror hung timelessly on the yellowed wall
and above the doorway pink cherubs completed the odd picture. Beyond lay built in cupboards painted green with yellow flowers cheerfully decorated on them.
A second bathroom was splayed with flowered wallpaper which I remembered from the seventies. Bright blue bathroom accessories completed the look.
We were finally hooked...
A beautiful gold gilt mirror hung timelessly on the yellowed wall
A second bathroom was splayed with flowered wallpaper which I remembered from the seventies. Bright blue bathroom accessories completed the look.
We were finally hooked...
The Bavarian Cottage
As we left the Bavarian Hut and followed David past the quaint little buildings,sheds and water tanks,
we noticed a house hiding it seemed to us at the back of the property. Intrigued we waited while the agent again struggled to find the key that belonged to this house. Propped up near its entrance stood a 70's style lavender sink complete with rusty taps.
This cottage although painted brown had green shutters on which someone had painted little red hearts. The solid green door opened and finally allowed us in as we turned and entered a curtained off entrance. In the middle of the room was a single bed with a double glass door leading to the living room area. Here we gazed around us at the warm glow of timber. The country kitchen with its green and red flowers which adorned the timber doors looked onto a field which stretched as far as the eye could see. In the sink someone had carefully washed all the dishes and left them standing.
Next to the kitchen was an L shaped bench which stood against the timber wall panelling. The floors gleamed in the sunlight as we stood in the living room looking out past the double glass sliding doors at the small deck. Beyond us a massive cactus tree snaked its way onto the roof dominating the other trees and shrubs.
Standing in the living room were two well worn leather armchairs. The television had been painted blue and had scattered silver stars glued around its rim. A dusty set of Encyclopaedia Britannica stood above an old desk. Adjacent were long mirrors set in the timber panelling with a small balustrade up near the roof from which a rag doll hung limply.
In front of us a timber door was carefully painted with colourful birds. Beyond this lay a bathroom with the most vibrant blue as its background. Colourful fish and coral childishly stretched across the entire wall.
Beneath lay a white spa bath encased in dark timber panelling with a separate shower and pink vanity.
Leaving the living room area and retracing our steps, we opened a door opposite the front door. As we tried to adjust to the darkness, we saw a toilet which sat above a step. Hanging above the toilet were pipes coming out of some white tiles. Without trying to stifle a giggle we realised that the toilet had just been installed into a previous shower without making the usual adjustments of taking out the existing pipes. I was further charmed by a small basin with a Victorian mirror hanging by a chain above it. Who were the owners of this house and why had they left so suddenly?
we noticed a house hiding it seemed to us at the back of the property. Intrigued we waited while the agent again struggled to find the key that belonged to this house. Propped up near its entrance stood a 70's style lavender sink complete with rusty taps.
This cottage although painted brown had green shutters on which someone had painted little red hearts. The solid green door opened and finally allowed us in as we turned and entered a curtained off entrance. In the middle of the room was a single bed with a double glass door leading to the living room area. Here we gazed around us at the warm glow of timber. The country kitchen with its green and red flowers which adorned the timber doors looked onto a field which stretched as far as the eye could see. In the sink someone had carefully washed all the dishes and left them standing.
Next to the kitchen was an L shaped bench which stood against the timber wall panelling. The floors gleamed in the sunlight as we stood in the living room looking out past the double glass sliding doors at the small deck. Beyond us a massive cactus tree snaked its way onto the roof dominating the other trees and shrubs.
Standing in the living room were two well worn leather armchairs. The television had been painted blue and had scattered silver stars glued around its rim. A dusty set of Encyclopaedia Britannica stood above an old desk. Adjacent were long mirrors set in the timber panelling with a small balustrade up near the roof from which a rag doll hung limply.
In front of us a timber door was carefully painted with colourful birds. Beyond this lay a bathroom with the most vibrant blue as its background. Colourful fish and coral childishly stretched across the entire wall.
Leaving the living room area and retracing our steps, we opened a door opposite the front door. As we tried to adjust to the darkness, we saw a toilet which sat above a step. Hanging above the toilet were pipes coming out of some white tiles. Without trying to stifle a giggle we realised that the toilet had just been installed into a previous shower without making the usual adjustments of taking out the existing pipes. I was further charmed by a small basin with a Victorian mirror hanging by a chain above it. Who were the owners of this house and why had they left so suddenly?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Passing through...
Entering the second bedroom our impression was once again reinforced as to how suddenly it appeared that the previous owners had left with all their personal possessions abandoned.
Entering into the main bedroom we were struck by more of the same. Looking beyond that, however we took in the large size of the room, and the views of mountains right the way to the Tweed River mouth. It appeared from the state of the paint that the rooms had not been painted for at least 40 years and were drab and desolate.
What were we considering letting ourselves in for -- could it get any worse? ...
Monday, October 18, 2010
Bavarian Hut Restaurant
The look of shocked disbelief passed as we entered through the door of the restaurant. Cottage tables and chairs were still placed ready for diners...but all was quiet at the Bavarian Hut. The place felt eerily abandoned with oil paintings and plates still adorning the walls.
A decorative meat grinder sat on the timber bar and lace ruffles lined the tops of the windows. A large wood burner sat resolutely in the centre of the room and timber panelling gave character to its adjoining bright blue walls.
We were transfixed as we sensed the potential as we moved into an extended part of the diningroom in which tables and benches remained with masses of paint brushes, pots, paints, old magazines and books littered its surface. An attractive old creamer sat in its corner with a side table beyond. Both were painted in a deep green with red and white flowers completing the Bavarian look. As we gazed out of the windows, an overgrown garden stretched out amongst the backdrop of the skyscrapers of the Gold Coast below. There were led further...
A decorative meat grinder sat on the timber bar and lace ruffles lined the tops of the windows. A large wood burner sat resolutely in the centre of the room and timber panelling gave character to its adjoining bright blue walls. We were transfixed as we sensed the potential as we moved into an extended part of the diningroom in which tables and benches remained with masses of paint brushes, pots, paints, old magazines and books littered its surface. An attractive old creamer sat in its corner with a side table beyond. Both were painted in a deep green with red and white flowers completing the Bavarian look. As we gazed out of the windows, an overgrown garden stretched out amongst the backdrop of the skyscrapers of the Gold Coast below. There were led further...
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Stepping into the Bavarian Hut
The agent mentioned he would meet us there and I spent a sleepness night in anticipation. The images from my computer flashed before me as I tried to picture the property.
We knew that there were at least three houses on an acre of flat ground, 2000 ft (600 m) above the Gold Coast and that the original house had been a restaurant. The price indicated that the property was in dire need of tender care but nothing prepared us for the moment we actually stood on the property.
As we shook hands with David, the agent, I noticed an amused look on his face. He told us a brief history of the property explaining what an icon it was and that people had arrived by helicopter to dine in its heyday. Struggling with the set of keys, I noticed the kitchen door had 'Private' emblazened on it before we stepped into the commercial kitchen.
It seemed as if the owners had simply walked out years ago, leaving the dishes in the sink ready to be washed... But they hadn't come back. On the shelves, empty old jam jars had been collected and someone had carefully put herbs and spices in them. Everywhere was an overwhelming sense of clutter.
Old pots hung above the stainless steel gas stove, dusty jugs carelessly washed with food spills, steam baskets piled, different basins in an array of condition, Kenwood mixers from the seventies (one orange, one white and one yellow) cups, mugs and utensils lined everywhere.
Against the far wall, copper pipes wound their way ominously around the ancient commercial dishwasher. Worn refrigerator doors opened into the dark cavities of the cooler rooms. An impressive maze of wires with peeling paint stretched around the walls as our eyes opened wider.
Now I knew why the agent was amused to see us. Who would be brave enough to take this project on? I was increasingly doubtful it would be us...
We knew that there were at least three houses on an acre of flat ground, 2000 ft (600 m) above the Gold Coast and that the original house had been a restaurant. The price indicated that the property was in dire need of tender care but nothing prepared us for the moment we actually stood on the property.
As we shook hands with David, the agent, I noticed an amused look on his face. He told us a brief history of the property explaining what an icon it was and that people had arrived by helicopter to dine in its heyday. Struggling with the set of keys, I noticed the kitchen door had 'Private' emblazened on it before we stepped into the commercial kitchen.
It seemed as if the owners had simply walked out years ago, leaving the dishes in the sink ready to be washed... But they hadn't come back. On the shelves, empty old jam jars had been collected and someone had carefully put herbs and spices in them. Everywhere was an overwhelming sense of clutter.
Old pots hung above the stainless steel gas stove, dusty jugs carelessly washed with food spills, steam baskets piled, different basins in an array of condition, Kenwood mixers from the seventies (one orange, one white and one yellow) cups, mugs and utensils lined everywhere. 
Now I knew why the agent was amused to see us. Who would be brave enough to take this project on? I was increasingly doubtful it would be us...
Finding the Bavarian Hut
Back in Brisbane, I tried to focus on the present, but my thoughts kept escaping to the lower Beechmont with its rural setting and small friendly community. Our daughters, Gen and Nat soon heard about our day trip as we animatedly spoke about our country drive.
I was soon on my laptop flicking through all the properties I could find in the area. Resolutely I continued, noting a few had open homes for the following day. None though really interested us until I saw the advertisement and photographs for one headlined the Dawning of a New Era. As I read further I learnt that the property was known as the Bavarian Hut and after 70 years of serving fine food, it was on the market.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Searching...
As we drove from Nerang up the winding road to Lower Beechmont, I commented on the steep climb of six hundred metres. Below us lay the occasional house precariously balancing among the steep terrain of trees. As we climbed further we gasped at the sight of the Gold Coast with its tall buildings glittering in the midday sun. A day trip into the mountains was about to change our lives.
Approaching the quaint village of Lower Beechmont, we slowed down and stopped at a small cottage which had been converted into a restuarant. This together with a real estate agency, general store and houses formed the small community. Around us cows contentedly grazed amongst the lush grass and children climbed trees with reckless abandon. As we sat at the sturdy timber benches, we relaxed while ordering our pies and chips. My husband, Bruce and I observed the quietness of yesteryear as we eased into a different flow of life.
After our hearty country fare, we looked forward to the rest of our journey with renewed enthusiasm away from the city we had left behind. Ahead of us, we climbed further until the trees cleared and the expanse of the Gold Coast was below us. Up we sped towards Beechmont and Binna Burra beyond.
Approaching the quaint village of Lower Beechmont, we slowed down and stopped at a small cottage which had been converted into a restuarant. This together with a real estate agency, general store and houses formed the small community. Around us cows contentedly grazed amongst the lush grass and children climbed trees with reckless abandon. As we sat at the sturdy timber benches, we relaxed while ordering our pies and chips. My husband, Bruce and I observed the quietness of yesteryear as we eased into a different flow of life.
After our hearty country fare, we looked forward to the rest of our journey with renewed enthusiasm away from the city we had left behind. Ahead of us, we climbed further until the trees cleared and the expanse of the Gold Coast was below us. Up we sped towards Beechmont and Binna Burra beyond.
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