Historic Euluma School House goes on the market

Buying a piece of local history

Paul Makin

Journalist

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Video in and out of schoolhouse

When Ray White Port Douglas boss Mark Flinn gets excited about a property, I mean really excited you just have to take notice. This writer was at the Ray White sponsored Pooch Party last Saturday in Port when Mark came up and suggested that my wife Marion and I take a drive to Julatten on the Sunday to see something very special, a piece of local history.

Sure, Julatten is outside the Douglas Shire, but Mark insisted this is history from the region that needed to be explored and taken in. He was right. After a relatively short drive we found ourselves at the gate of the Euluma Creek Schoolhouse on Rasmussen Road and as we drove into this property what greeted us was not just a house for sale, but an era long gone.

Established in 1935 as a school for the settling families in the Julatten hinterland, it was where a dedicated teacher lived, and children filled the classroom during those schooldays up until 1951. The property overlooks lush fertile sugarcane and grazing farmlands. Inside and it’s like travelling back in time where even the small room where kids left their school bags is still there and an old wooden writing desk remains, a reminder of the many more that would have graced the schoolhouse.

Fast forward to 2022

Restored by the current owners, who would have benefitted from the modern comfort upgrades, this is truly a place to escape the hustle and bustle. Silence if you want it, only disturbed by the old original school bell that remains out front, but only if you choose to ring it. One can only imagine how many times that’s been rung over the decades.

I won’t go into real estate speak as all of that’s on the Ray White website but suffice to say the teachers and kids of yesteryear could never imagine in their wildest dreams the mod cons the place has now. The kitchen wouldn’t be out of place in a top restaurant. Next to the schoolhouse sits a guest house, it’s a more modern building of course but it doesn’t look out of place. I imagine that would make a great B & B.

The property takes up six acres, including a veggie patch and a shed complete with tractor and ride on mower. A stable sits empty waiting for a few horses to move in and there’s the usual water tanks and stuff.

Take a Captain Cook at this

It’s claimed a Grass Tree has been growing there since Captain Cook sailed along the tropical north coastline in 1770. Sir Joseph Banks would have gone bananas over this beauty. A prospective buyer had flown in from Melbourne to inspect the property while we were there and left with a big smile on her face. Odds on she’ll be back for the auction on Saturday 4th of June.

Ray White super sales lady Soula Kazakis let us to stay on for a while after she and husband Darren left and trusted us to lock the gate when we’d finished what we had planned. It was actually Mark Flinn’s idea. He suggested we enjoy a glass of wine while sitting on the old school veranda and soak up the surroundings. It was peaceful and quiet as we drank a toast to all the souls who at one time or another taught or learnt in this historic place. It was hard to leave in the end. Let’s hope the new owner or owners spare a thought for what came before as they make themselves at home at the old Euluma Creek Schoolhouse.

Open inspections Thursday 26th May 5-5.30pm and Thursday 2nd June 5-5.30pm

www.raywhiteportdouglas.com.au

Established in 1935 as a school and used up until 1951 IMAGE Supplied
The schoolhouse has sweeping views on parklike grounds across six acres IMAGE Supplied
The verandah is ideal to relax on and take in the tranquillity IMAGE Supplied

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