As a real estate agent, sometimes you get a listing that’s more than the usual home or block of land.
Recently I have just listed 23 acres on Geissmann Street – right in the heart of town – and it’s taken me on a journey, a deep dive into the history of our mountain.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of it, but more than that, it has become important to me that whoever buys this beautiful land knows its story and I wanted to share that with you all too.
This is the last large parcel of land left in North Tamborine and it goes all the way back to 1898 when Wilhem and Elfried Geissmann made their journey from the hustle and bustle of Brisbane to the serene rainforests of Tamborine Mountain.
They originally owned over 400 acres in North Tamborine, taking what we now know as the western side of Main Street.
This pioneering family bought us the majestic Capo Di Monte Guesthouse, named after the Italian king’s residence in Switzerland where they spent their honeymoon.
Wilhelm and Elfried and their two children camped in a tent until the mammoth Guesthouse build was completed.
I bet they would have never guessed that all these years later it’s kept the name.
This large house became a hub for the residents, they started a school and it was the mountain’s first convenience store of sorts.
They raised seven children at Capo Di Monte, and some of those children made a lasting legacy on the mountain.
Possibly my favourite would be Hilde Geissmann – a naturalist whose contributions to the Queensland museum and national papers have stamped our local wildlife, flora and fauna on the map.
A gentle woman who stood for kindness and working symbiotically with our fortunate surroundings.
But this block of land is most connected to the second and fifth sons Bernard (Barney) and Eric.
In 1911, the Geissmann family started 61 years of saw milling and in 1914 the sons built a saw mill on Sandy Creek.
They later built a larger second mill at Thunderbird Park, but the remnants of the original mill still remain on this near untouched piece of land.
So many homes up here were built off the back of this little mill, and did I also mention it has the biggest figtree I’ve ever seen – just up from the backs of the beautiful Sandy Creek that meanders along the perimeter of the block.
Could you imagine a piece of history, your own creek, your own waterfall where you can create your dream all within 200 metres to town? Unheard of!
Let us all hope that whoever is lucky enough to win the bid at Auction can also add to the remarkable story of 28A Geissmann Street.
Thanks to the Tamborine Mountain Historical Society, the amazing people at the Tamborine Mountain Library and especially Louise Piper’s book “The ripples in my pond”
If anyone wants to join me at open homes for a look you are so welcome to come along.
Call me on 0434 950 554 or Steve 0412 322 445.
