Palm Springs statement in Port Lincoln
Palm Springs meets modern industrial in this waterfront home carved into the Port Lincoln foreshore. Eyre Peninsula owner-builder Duncan Moore shares the challenges of building this bold concrete abode, which is now on the market.
The solid, insulating and elegant concrete walls of this grand four-bedroom Port Lincoln home are a major selling point.
Yet the home’s owner-builder Duncan Moore concedes that in hindsight, the decision to build with concrete turned into a headache.
“We poured 30 concrete panels on site, which was an enormous effort. It’s a steep block and the driveway was just a goat track at that stage,” Duncan reflects.
“The side of a hill is probably the worst place to construct and lift concrete panels – we bogged concrete trucks and cranes, it was tough.”
The result, however, is a two-level boutique home worthy of a Grand Designs episode.
Now on the market, the home – 38 Flaxman Street, Port Lincoln – offers all the benefits of Duncan’s hard work with grand living spaces, luxury materials and sublime views.
Completed in 2017, the home features soaring three-metre ceilings, exposed concrete, swathes of Victorian Ash cladding, and an independent studio space.
The hero of the design is an open-plan living space with glass doors that open to create an expansive indoor-outdoor area with panoramic ocean views.
Duncan, originally from Melbourne, has lived in Port Lincoln for 17 years and owns building company Moore Design and Construct.
Duncan has relished the time spent playing with his two daughters on the lawn and enjoying views across Boston Bay.
“We don’t take the view for granted and do spend a fair bit of time looking out at the ocean,” he says.
There’s always something going on whether it’s wild weather, the lights of the town, or the boats.
“You can go onto the lawn and watch the yachts or the cruise ships in the bay and that provides entertainment for us every day.”
Duncan says the combination of solid walls and timber finishes creates a stunning home.
“The concrete panels are great insulation and the home stays a constant temperature year-round. Noise-wise they’re good as well. You feel safe in the home, and it’s almost like a bunker. It has that solid, dependable feeling,” he says.
“My favourite area of the home is the living area with its timber ceiling. From there, the kids can run in and out through the seven-metre opening, to go and play on the lawn.”
The gardens were professionally designed with a focus on hardy, native plants to survive the exposed location and rocky terrain.
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In some rooms, unique ventilation windows provide points of interest and allow the sea breeze to flow through the home.
Another unique design inclusion is a wine cellar built underneath one of the bedrooms, accessed by a door hidden in wardrobe cabinetry.
With his background in carpentry and love of timber, Duncan chose Victorian Ash cladding, featured throughout the home.
“I love natural timber. In addition to the Victorian Ash, the joinery is birch pine or hoop pine throughout.
“Those timbers match very well with the concrete.”
Despite the effort he has poured into 38 Flaxman Street, the lifestyle provided by the grand home – and its views – have made it all worthwhile.
“The home has definitely changed our mindset and lifestyle, particularly for the kids who love playing on the lawn area with its amazing views,” says Duncan.
Duncan is selling because of family circumstances but is already planning his next home, just down the road. This time, without the concrete.
“I’ll miss this home because the kids grew up here … but I’m going to build again,” he says.
“Everybody in town has asked me if it’s going to be concrete but I’m going to do something a little bit different this time.”
The sale is being handled by Rachel Hawkins and Corey Carbone of Harris Real Estate.
