Will Ernie be part of the a(u)ction?

 

In a month from now, # 3 Sproxton Lane will go under the hammer. If the "bidding guide" of $1,800,000 is anything to go by, it'll be the most expensive piece of real estate in Sproxton Lane so far.

But why is there a "bidding guide" when it goes to auction? Isn't the point of the auction to find out what the market is willing to pay? This particular agent seems to love "bidding guides" because of their nine properties going to auction, all nine have "bidding guides"! - see here.

Here's the property description in real estate parlance: "Now, That's what I'm Talking about….. Imagine sitting on your own private jetty with a fishing rod enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. This 1682m2 block with a high tide boundary of the Clyde River has a slipway and two homes on one title. The River Cottage is a quaint two bedroom renovated property with unobstructed river views. It feels like you are living on a house boat, surrounded by water. Add a detached one bedroom studio with ensuite including sauna, creating the ideal guest hideaway. The street frontage onto Sproxtons lane has a four bedroom separate brick home with single lock up garage, recently rented to provide income, plus lifestyle. The river cottage is tucked away so privately, you can slip down for the weekend, and not disturb the tenants whilst enjoying the negative gearing options. There are only a handful of homes that have their own slipway and jetty so we expect good interest."

As for "slipping down for the weekend ... whilst enjoying the negative gearing options", methinks the taxman would have something to say about that. Anyway, there's only ONE option to gear negatively which requires losing money in order to save some. How enjoyable is that?

Bought in 2007 for $800,000, it should go for considerably more than the price of an HR HOLDEN, even without Ernie's "help", but will it end up being the most expensive piece of real estate in Sproxton Lane so far?

Googlemap Riverbend

 

P.S. All bets are off, all signage is off! As of 17 February 2022, it's no longer up for AUCTION. And while the auction was advertised with a "bidding guide" of $1,800,000, the now advertised sales price is given as "range" from $2,100,000 - $2,300,000 - click here and here. Go figure!

P.P.S. A few weeks on, and the description in the ad has been shortened to "Nestled at the base of the Clyde mountain is the historic village of Nelligen known as the playground for boat enthusiasts and fishermen. Imagine sitting on your own private jetty with a fishing rod enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. This 1682m2 block with a high tide boundary of the Clyde River, there are only a handful of homes that have their own slipway and jetty so we expect good interest. The street frontage onto Sproxtons lane has a four bedroom brick home with single lock up garage which was recently tenanted", leaving out "The River Cottage is a quaint two bedroom renovated property with unobstructed river views. It feels like you are living on a house boat, surrounded by water. Add a detached one bedroom studio with ensuite including sauna, creating the ideal guest hideaway ... The river cottage is tucked away so privately, you can slip down for the weekend, and not disturb the tenants whilst enjoying the negative gearing options." Are you thinking what I am thinking?

 

Ma’u ha ‘aho fiefie, Matt!

FOR SALE GOOGLE Map   VILLA MAMANA is situated on deserted Telekivava'u Island in the South Seas last kingdom, the Kingdom of Tonga, 37 nautical miles south of Pangai with its regional airport. This almost untouched part of Polynesia offers all the lonely island cliché could suggest: crystal clear waters, rich marine life, lush tropical vegetation, an authentic culture, and absolute peace of mind. The Villa (built in 1999) is right at the white beach and the shallow lagoon which surrounds the island. 3000 sq/ft of villa hold 2-1/2 bedrooms with ensuite marble bathrooms, the great room, two huge decks (which become part of the great room with the french doors opened), and a porch. All facing west to ensure beautiful sunsets over the warm South Pacific Ocean. High ceilings, wooden floors, teak furniture, and the light reflecting from the lagoon give the colonial style building its special charm. Amenities include: TV, VCD, stereo, satellite phone, fans, washer, Workshop, fishing gear, etc. Further down the beach you will find the kitchen house of 700 sq/ft (fully equipped) with a studio, and a smaller house (500sq/ft) which is ideal as caretaker quarter. Included in sale are also a 40ft motor yacht, a 27ft gamefishing power boat, a runabout, and utilities like two diesel gensets, two inverters, two battery banks, solar panels, desalination system, water-tank and much more. For photos, click here.

 

My involvement with VILLA MAMANA on Telekivava'u goes back to 2006 when I met the Austrian Horst Berger who had made Tonga his home in 1995 and briefly 'house-sat' VILLA MAMANA for the original owner Joe Altenhein.

Villa Mamana on the remote tropical island of Telekivava'u in the Kingdom of Tonga has been a most exquisite daydream for all involved: the original creator Joe Altenhein, the odd island-sitter, and its subsequent owner, Matt Muirhead, who tried to run it as what the Lonely Planet Travel Guide once described as "the most exclusive and beautiful accommodation in Tonga", but in 2015 sent me this email:

 

Aloha Peter, Well old chap we have come to the end of the line with Villa Mamana. We tried for years to make a go on a very limited budget. We made some progress when there, but suffered when not there. This past year our houses and property were ransacked. Locals stole everything they could fit in boats. We don't know who it was but have our suspicions. The loss is too much to overcome. The jungle and culture wins. We are trying to dispose of what is left and will turn the page. Tonga is impossible to do business in. The culture sad to say is not trustworthy and without a trusted local no one can operate. Someday we will visit Australia and hope to see you on the porch. Or if your travels take you to Hawaii or Santa Cruz let us know. Thank you for your faithful friendship and support. Aloha nui loa a ka Ko and Malo e lele. Matt Muirhead Hawaii Telekivavau

 

Villa Mamana is no more but as Joe Altenhein, the original owner and creator of VILLA MAMANA, wrote a very long time ago: "We all had the best time of our lives on the island, and will always miss it - unless we find another island and build a 'Villa Mamana Lite' just for us."

To which Matt Muirhead added: "Dear Peter, thank you for tying a ribbon around what Telekivava’u was. Seeing the pictures brought back a flood of wonderful memories. The white powdery sands that would move around the island with the full moon cycles. The feelings that isolation brought and surfing world-class waves right out the front door. When I retire from full-time work I will write a few words that might give a glimpse to those who long for a far-away paradise."

It's Matt's birthday today. I think I have a sunset drink on Riverbend's jetty and raise a toast to him and his heartbreakingly beautiful dream.

Ma’u ha ‘aho fiefie, Matt!

 

Googlemap Riverbend

 

P.S. When will you write your story, Matt? Tom Neale did! - click here.

P.P.S. Want to read more about VILLA MAMANA ? Click here.

 

China, Inc.

 

The above video clip is a little dated, and so is Ted Fishman's book, "China, Inc.", published in 2005, but between the two they draw an amazing and sometimes frightening picture of what's happening in China. Required viewing and reading!

What makes China's emerging corporations so dangerously competitive? What will happen when China manufactures nearly everything -- computers, cars, jumbo jets, and pharmaceuticals -- that the United States and Europe can, at perhaps half the cost? How do these developments reach around the world and straight into all of our lives? These are ground-shaking questions, and "China, Inc." provides answers.

Googlemap Riverbend

 

Cargo Cult

 

Some economists have called communism "the largest cargo cult the world has ever seen", but we needn't look as far as the former Soviet Union to see cargo cult in practice.

The term 'cargo cult' was first used by Australians in the then Protectorate of Papua & New Guinea after patrols into the central highlands of New Guinea had been resupplied by air drops.

The natives, having observed this, built rough air strips, imitation radio antennas made of rope and bamboo, indeed whole dummy planes, to attract their own cargo from the sky after which all the harsh demands of life would miraculously disappear.

Don't judge them too harshly. We have our own 'cargo cult' in Australia. We call it Centrelink.

 

The end of a dream

My old mate from my days in Rabaul in front of the house in Kuranda

 

I wrote elsewhere about the "CHARMING QUEENSLANDER IN AN IDEAL CENTRAL LOCATION", a five-minute walk to the village of Kuranda and a fifteen-minute drive to all the facilities in Cairns, which for the last couple of years had kept my dream alive of one day returning to the tropical North - click here.

An old mate from my days in Rabaul in Papua New Guinea who now lives in Cairns, said he would take a drive up the mountain range to Kuranda to have a look at it and report back. Here's his professional assessment:

"Survived the drive up the range. Only two sets of lights as workers toiled to maintain the road and bridge over the Barron. Had a look at Barang Street. Very central position in relation to the village. Large block of land next door and then a church which looked as though it had been closed for some time. Property overgrown and appeared empty. Why hasn’t it sold? Kuranda is suffering from the lack of tourists. 80% of shops were shut and the main street is empty. No Sky Rail operating today; might be shut. What the future holds for Kuranda depends on the tourism industry arising from the ashes. Will it happen? Not sure. Would I live in Kuranda? No way! The strumming of banjos and the sweet smell of marijuana must permeate the district at night! Didn’t stay for lunch at the pub which I will save for another day."

 

 

Well, it seems to have sold the very same day my mate sent me his professional real estate assessment, because it's now "UNDER OFFER".

The end of yet another dream.

Googlemap Riverbend

 

P.S. It sold on 18 February 2022 for $420,000 by the previous owners who had bought it as recently as September 2020 for $295,000, or a quick profit of $125,000 in seventeen months.