The Big Banana

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday November 22, 2001

Margie Blok

Take your pick from beachside units to weatherboard cottages to lavish mansions everyone is catered for at Coffs Harbour.

WITH its moderate subtropical climate and magnificent coastline, punctuated by lush mountains and rainforests edged with long, white beaches, Coffs Harbour has long been a favourite holiday destination. But in recent years, with the trend towards decentralisation, this major coastal resort town, famous for bananas and fishing, is attracting city dwellers moving north in pursuit of a better lifestyle and affordable residential property.

Located 554 kilometres north of Sydney and 265 kilometres south of Brisbane, Coffs Harbour has a population of about 55,000 and boasts the largest regional shopping centre in northern NSW. Shoppers can choose from the stores in City Centre Mall (now being revamped), Park Beach Plaza and Home Base, which has more than 100 specialty shops and large stores including Target, Woolworths, Harvey Norman, Franklins and BBC Hardware.

In 1841, timber-getters were among the first Europeans to settle in the area. The industry thrived and up to 450 ships called at the port each year to collect timber. But in 1865 a boat named Carywell was wrecked because of navigation hazards, which led to a shipping boycott of the harbour. When a lighthouse was built in 1878 the timber trade resumed, flourishing after the jetty was completed in 1892. In 1916 the Forestry Commission took over the management of the forests, but within two decades the industry had almost collapsed through a lack of timber.

This North Coast area was first named Korff's Harbour in 1847 by John Korff, a naval architect and shipbuilder, who sheltered behind Muttonbird Island during a fierce storm in 1847. Korff's ship had been sailing for the Bellinger River at Urunga (these days about a 25-minute drive south of Coffs) to load cedar. When the town site was reserved in 1861, it was renamed Coffs Harbour.

In 1881, Fijian bananas were introduced to the area by a farmer named Herman Reick. Banana growing boomed in the early 1900s and today Coffs remains the largest banana-growing district in NSW. Some banana farms lying on the steep hills west of the Pacific Highway are now being subdivided for residential housing. In Gaudrons Road, a modern home with magnificent views is listed for sale at $450,000.

The Coffs Harbour residential property market offers a wide variety of housing from simple holiday units to luxury beachfront homes. Prices for units start at about $60,000 and homes range from $120,000 to more than $1 million. Close to town is Beacon Hill traditionally considered the best precinct where many homes have sweeping coastal views. Recently, a renovated four-bedroom house with southerly views sold for $450,000.

In the area around the Coffs Harbour Golf Club, brick-veneer family homes can be bought for between $145,000 and $185,000, says the Raine & Horne agent Christine Clarke. Properties on Reid Drive backing onto the golf course sell from about $250,000 to mid-$300,000s. Close to Park Beach are many butter-box-style brick apartment blocks and small villa homes.

The trendy part of town is ``The Jetty" where a thriving cafe and restaurant strip has sprung up in recent years. Located about one kilometre from the centre of town, the Jetty area has several new contemporary apartment developments some better than others. A few weeks ago, an older style two-bedroom unit with views sold for $210,000. Down on the jetty itself is the Coffs Harbour Fishing Co-operative, renowned for cooked fish and chips, succulent fresh fish and seafood.

North of the town centre are holiday resorts including Aanuka, Pelican Beach, Nautilus and Pacific Bay. Nearby at Sapphire, a prime 1110-square-metre beachfront block of land has just sold through Hibberd Real Estate for $550,000. Across the road is a lavish two-level villa complex. Developed by the Sydney businessman Ivan Ballantine, the villas have the highest quality fixtures and fittings. One is for sale at $595,000 through the owner (0418 642 062).

Also north of the town is the Diggers Beach residential precinct where large homes have been built in recent years. Properties here cost from about $350,000 to more than $900,000. Listed at $900,000 through Raine & Horne is a magnificent home with beach views and a leading track to the beach.

In the lush valleys behind Coffs are rural properties and Bonville International Golf Course. A 10.8-hectare manicured farm named Avignon in the Crossmaglen Valley is listed for sale at $398,000 through Raine & Horne. The property has an open-plan three bedroom house, swimming pool and cattle yards.

Without doubt, the largest and most lavish mansion in Coffs is on a headland slightly north of the town. Owned by American IT squillionaire Jaybe Ammons , the house (designed by local architect Rosie Stolley) is under construction on a combined parcel of land which locals estimate cost more than $3 million.

Coffs Harbour

Style Luxury new beachside homes; brick-veneer houses and villas; older-style weatherboard cottages; low-rise apartment blocks and a handful of high-rise apartment buildings near the beach

Price range Houses from $120,000 to more than $1 million; apartments and villas from $60,000

Transport Bus or car around town; from Sydney by car, bus, train or plane.

Facilities Beaches, Coffs Harbour Golf Course, Bonville International Golf Club, National Parks, good shopping, cafes, restaurants, schools, Southern Cross University (southern campus), North Coast regional Botanic Gardens

Amusements Golfing, bowling, fishing, boating, swimming, surfing, scuba diving, horseracing, whale and dolphin watching, weekend markets