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A national newspaper advertisement for a former pineapple farm on Magnetic Island in 1976 saw a Tasmanian family pick up their life and make their move to North Queensland.

And for nearly 50 years, the vast 14 acre property at Nelly Bay has been their “spiritual home”.

122 Mandalay Avenue, Nelly Bay

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A family member revealed that their parents spotted an advertisement for the ex-pineapple farm in The Australian newspaper 47 years ago, and their mother was on the next available flight to Townsville.

“Our father was working as a doctor in Hobart and our mother was working as a teacher and they were yearning for a change,” they revealed.

“Within days, our mother was on a plane, then the old timber ferry to Picnic Bay.

“She fell in love with the extraordinary landscape of the island, dominated by wild tumbling granite headlands and wind-sculpted Hoop pines above pristine clear water beaches.

“She also fell in love with the magical rainforest retreat she had come to see, bordered on three sides by national park and accessed by a bridge over Gustav Creek.

“Needless to say, she bought the property and our family of five (three school-aged children) headed north in a Combi van and camped on borrowed mattresses until the furniture arrived.”

But with their father now to frail to visit, and prevented from travel during the pandemic, it is time to list their “special place”.

“Our mother wanted to come back as a Brahminy Kite, a majestic white and chestnut seabird of the north,” the family wrote.

“On our most recent visit, we noticed a kite circling the grand old Hoop pine below the house and realised that it was building a nest at the summit.

“We have all moved to lives and families in other places, but Magnetic Island remains a sacred and magic home.

“We’ve all continued to gravitate to this home as a refuge. Now with partners, children and grandchildren.”

The property is listed for sale with Ray White Townsville’s MaryAnne Law.

There is a paved driveway, full-sized tennis courts, a pool and a rustic two-storey timber house with a large open plan living and kitchen area with a servery to the outside alfresco area, four airconditioned bedrooms including a master with its own lounge area and a renovated bathroom.

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A short stroll away is the guest bungalow built by the owners with an open plan lounge, bedroom with bush views and a bathroom with a sunken spa.

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The gated property can be found at the end of a no through road and has a natural creek flowing through it.

“In the early days, the ferry trip to town took 45 minutes and was relatively limited (now it takes 20 minutes by a very regular water cat service),” the family wrote.

“None of us kids cared to go to town on weekends. There was so much to do here, beaches and hiking and snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing, boating and wet season water holes and waterfalls.

“At home, there was the bush, the creek, the swimming pool, the new tennis court and a cool shed where we could hang out with our friends away from adults.

“We also had such a rich family life away from the busyness and distraction of city living, yet so close to Townsville for school, work and travel.”

It has been listed for $1.5 million.

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