> Polished iron bark floors
> Log fire
> 48” High Definition Sony LCD Television
> DVD/Blu-ray Library with 30 DVDs
> Bose Bluetooth/AirPlay SoundDock
> Large S/S Fridge with Ice/Cold water dispenser
> Gas cooktop
> Electric oven
> 24 bottle Wine Rack
> UV water filter
> 4-6 place dining suite
> Automatic Coffee Machine
To help get you started with your stay we supply some handy provisions:
> Whole Arabica Coffee Beans
> Tea selection
> Par-baked Vienna Loaf from Foxy’s Baker in the freezer for baking fresh hot bread
> Quality Jam
> Butter sachets
> 250 ml milk
> Suttons Apple Juice
> Olive Oil
> Balsamic Vinegar
> Herbs and Spices
> Dishwasher Pods
> Cleaning Supplies
> Gas 4 burner BBQ
> Table and four cushioned chairs
> Two adjustable sun-loungers
> Panoramic 180-degree views
> Outdoor fire pit
> Telescope and binoculars, along with a bird-watching guide
> Reclining Spa Bath
> Shower
> Aromatherapy Oils
> Hair dryer
> Soap, Shampoo Conditioner and Lotion
> Washing Machine
> Tumble Dryer
> Laundry Tub
> Ironing Board
> Steam Iron
> Queen Size pillow-top bed
> Desk
> Two pillow-top King Single Beds
> Desk & Adjustable Office Chair
> Under cover parking
> All weather entrance to villa from carport
> Tesla Destination Charger
> Carbon Negative
> 10KW Grid-Connected Solar
> Tesla Destination Charger
> Chalet Fully Insulated
> Natural Light Skylights
> Wood Stove
> Property-supplied firewood
> Haven for wildlife
Perfectly situated on a gentle knoll overlooking Curlew Gorge with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, the Curlew chalet is set in 100 acres of natural sanctuary for complete privacy and tranquillity.
Featuring a contemporary, highly energy-efficient design, Curlew Villa combines architectural ideas from the modern Queenslander such as a Zincalume roof, a shaded verandah and a sunny deck area with cues from classic Alpine Lodges such as a steeply pitched roof that sits snugly over the walls for winter comfort. This blend is ideally suited to the high-altitude mountain location.
Made mostly from locally grown Ironbark, the rich natural glow is complemented by the traditional silver of zincalume. These colours reflect the surrounding trees and granite for perfect harmony.
The harmonious design continues inside with natural wood finishes, stainless steel fittings, polished Ironbark floors and natural timber cathedral ceilings with Ironbark collar ties.
The layout lends itself to open plan living with a connected living room, kitchen and verandah/deck. The villa is the size of a small house - space to relax in.
The alpine theme of the Ironbark is complemented with the rich deep brown leather lounger and rug. This is continued though the bedrooms with neutral tone doona covers and throws.
The eastern facing kitchen and living room capture the warmth of the morning sun and are shaded in the afternoon. They open out to the verandah and deck with glorious 180 degree panoramic views of the forested mountains to the north, the Curlew Gorge to the east and rolling hills to the south
Relax in the afternoon under the shade of the verandah with a glass of wine and a listen to the babble of the river water when it flows during the wet season over granite boulders in the gorge. Or the calls of Kookaburras, Mountain Larrys and the many other bird species.
In the late afternoon, prepare a BBQ on the verandah or a gourmet meal in the fully equipped epicurean kitchen with gas appliances. Gaze out over the valley below while watching the lengthening shadows and spot the kangaroos which come out to graze. Then listen to your own music on the Bose music system.
By night view the star-studded clear mountain skies using the supplied 130 mm reflecting telescope with startling clarity due to the lack of light pollution, the 800 metre altitude and the low humidity climate.
Curlew Retreat offers a high-standard fit-out to enhance your experience on the Granite Belt. See the sidebar for a complete list.
Some highlights:
Curlew Villa is engineered for the smallest impact on the local ecology. Since January 2010 it has been carbon positive.
The villa is naturally cool in summer and warm in winter due to the highest standard of insulation in ceilings, walls, floors and Low-E glass combined with 8-metre-high ceilings with adjustable vents plus the cool climate. In summer the climate is typically 6 degrees cooler than Brisbane.
Water comes from two 8,800-litre tanks supplied with rainwater captured on the Zincalume roof. The natural purity of the rainwater is further purified with a micro-gauge filter on the drinking water tap in the kitchen.
The villa has 52 solar panels on the northern roof producing up to 10kw of electricity. It produces over 4 times what it consumes providing the extra electricity into the local electricity grid.
We have a Tesla charger in the carport for those who have gone electric.
The Curlew Estate comprises open fields and forested areas. Fire risk is managed by the natural grazing of the field areas by kangaroos supplemented with a small herd of Black Angus cattle.
Signposted all-weather access road suitable for all car types
We are in a mountainous, remote area. There is Telstra 3G access via a rooftop antenna and a repeater located in the storeroom.
To use:
1. Telstra only
2. Ensure you have 3G enabled
3. Signal strength is strongest in the hall near the front door but should also be usable from the master bedroom and bathroom.
We have a Telstra Cel-Fi Go 4G booster that provides four bars of 4G inside the chalet. You should get 4-8Mbps download speed on your own Telstra-connected devices suitable for most activities.
For those not on Telstra, we also have WiFi with medium-speed Internet access via Telstra 4GX. It operates at 512kbps. This works well for browsing, email and audio meetings. It is too slow for video-conferencing or streaming TV.