$3.2 million prize home up for sale a month after huge sweepstakes win
The winner of a prize home in Queensland valued at more than $3 million is selling the home just a month after they got it.
A resident of Urunga NSW was announced to have won 66 Templeton Wy, Doonan, on May 14, in a prize draw run by the charity yourtown.
With commitments outside of Queensland, the vendor decided to sell the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home at an upcoming auction.
The house is nestled deep in the Noosa Hinterland accessed through a long driveway inside a private cul-de-sac.
The home will be sold fully furnished, including furniture and appliances valued at around $200,000.
At the Prize Draw, yourtown valued the home at around $3.2 million. Now, the home is being sold by agents Kess Prior & Ruth Venning of Hinternoosa Real Estate.
'It's north facing, it's flooded with natural light, it's absolutely beautiful,' Ms Prior said. 'It's like stepping into a new life.'
The modern Queenslander was owned for nearly 10 years before being sold for the sweepstakes, offering an elevated position over the nearby bush.
The house itself has a covered deck around every side, along with ducted airconditioning and a gas fireplace.
Outside, garden lighting leads into a large pool, along with a cubby house near the back of the property.
The home is less than 20 minutes from both Eumundi and Noosa Heads, and less than half an hour away from the coast's airport.
'Templeton Way is one of the best streets in the Hinterland,' Ms Prior said. 'I think it's gonna be a cracking auction.'
The auction will take place from midday on July 18, with the first open home at 1pm on Wednesday, June 25.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Turning into America': Sydney restaurant's menu act outrages
A Sydney restaurant has responded after a customer aired their frustration over a tip being added to their bill without their consent – a move that has reignited the debate over whether Australia's tipping culture is becoming more like that of the United States. The discussion was sparked by a Reddit post detailing a visit to Lana, an upscale Italian restaurant in Sydney's Circular Quay, owned by hospitality giant House Made Hospitality. The post included a photo of the bill, which came to $221 before a seven per cent service charge of $15.47 was added, bringing the total to $236.45. The original poster wrote: 'This is the second occasion I have seen this at a fine dining Sydney restaurant. Is this slowly becoming the norm? Is the gratuity actually shared with the staff who go above and beyond?' They also noted the service charge was detailed on the menu in 'tiny print'. Commenters weighed in The thread quickly filled with angry comments from locals who felt the practice was out of touch with Australian values. 'Places like this should be made famous for scummy tactics of gratuity,' said one. Another wrote: 'This isn't America,' while others vowed to avoid restaurants with auto-tips. 'Thanks for the heads up,' said a third, 'I am not okay with paying an auto-gratuity. This is Australia. Once tipping culture takes hold, it will never go away.' Another user called it 'absolutely disgraceful behaviour' and said it 'needed to be called out'. Restaurant responds Lana responded to the backlash, telling 'The optional seven per cent gratuity at Lana is communicated at multiple stages during the booking process (on our website, in the booking widget, in the confirmation email), written on the menus, and verbalised again when the bill is presented, and is designed to reward our team for their dedication and hard work. 'It also serves to incentivise exceptional service and support increased tenure within our industry, at a time when experience is hard to find, and living costs are increasing. 'This surcharge is not mandatory and can be removed at any point, no questions asked nor judgment given, should a guest request it.' The restaurant explained that gratuities are managed through a third-party software program (which it believes is the fairest approach and ensures transparency), and every dollar goes directly to the team working during that shift, including the kitchen. 'Our goal is to deliver a memorable dining experience for our guests while rewarding our team for their efforts,' the spokesman continued. 'However, we fully respect that not all guests may wish to pay the gratuity, which is why it remains entirely optional.' The 'awkwardness' of opting out Despite this, commenters were sceptical that guests would feel comfortable opting out of the charge. 'They're counting on the fact that a good number of diners will feel too awkward to ask for it to be removed,' claimed one. 'You have to look the person in the eye who won't be getting the extra money,' pointed out another. Is this legal? In Australia, restaurants are permitted to add an automatic service charge or tip to bills, but there are strict legal requirements regarding transparency and the option to opt out. The charge must be clearly indicated as optional and displayed in the total price before the payment is made. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) states that businesses must be transparent about these optional charges and ensure customers are not misled. Diners must also be able to request the removal of any automatic gratuity before paying the bill. Do hospitality workers expect tips? Much of the controversy around tipping is due to the fact that Aussie workers are already paid a fair wage. Australia's minimum wage is $24.95 per hour, as of July 1 – among the highest in the world – while in the U.S., employees often rely on tips as they earn a base wage as little as US$7.25 ($11.32) per hour.

News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
First-time buyers' surprise at landing Geelong West home
A mid-campaign adjustment to the price expectations of a Geelong West house saw three bidders re-engage with the property at the auction. The three-bedroom weatherboard residence at 180 Aberdeen St sold for $658,000 at Saturday's auction after three groups contested the property. Gartland Geelong agent Will Ainsworth said the eventual buyers revealed they hadn't intended to compete for the 388sq m property near Shannon Ave, but found themselves holding the contract after auction. 'We ended up selling to a couple from Melbourne who came down with little intention of bidding, so they were quite surprised when they ended up with the contract and champagne,' Mr Ainsworth said. 'They were interested in the property that they'd been through the week prior, but they came down with the intentions of not necessarily bidding but seeing how it went. 'They kind of got sucked in to the process and before you knew it they were competing with another buyer.' Mr Ainsworth said each party was first-time buyers, though the purchasers final plans for the property aren't known. 'I guess they bought it thinking it's a good proposition and not matter what they use it for, it's going to be good value and a good property for then over time,' Mr Ainsworth said. At $658,000, Mr Ainsworth said the property presented good at about $160,000 below Geelong West's median house price. 'Immediately across the road is Newtown where the median price is $1.1m, so you're buying under the median house price 50m away from a blue-chip Newtown of a $1.1m median house price,' he said. Mr Ainsworth said the property was initially listed at a higher price guide 'We just weren't getting a lot of connection with buyers, so we did actually drop it down a bit. 'Funnily enough the people that bid had all seen it prior with the higher price range but then re-engaged based on the drop. 'It's a matter of dealing with the market you're in and if the buyers' aren't engaging, then it's usually the price expectations. If you lower it a bit, then they jump back in.' The property was marketed as an opportunity in a blue-chip location for renovators, investors or to create a dream home. The house offered high ceilings with decorative cornices and picture rails, along with an open fireplace in the front living room. The separate kitchen was ready for a transformation, while the three bedrooms were fitted with built-in wardrobes.

News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Global second-hand fashion fave eyes big entry to Geelong
Global second-hand thrift retailer Savers has secured its first foothold in Geelong in a landmark deal. Savers has signed a long-term lease at the former Rays Outdoors building at 340-344 Melbourne Rd, North Geelong, a store once famous for its outdoor rock wall feature with an angler in a dinghy and the mechanical gorilla inside. The deal, brokered by Colliers, sees Savers take up 2390sq m of retail space in the high-profile corner location. The lease follows the recent $8.5m sale of property, also negotiated by Colliers. Savers is a for-profit company that's described as a champion of the circular economy, helping to drive millions of items from landfill each year across its Australian stores. Geelong is the first Victorian Savers store outside Melbourne, where it has nine outlets in suburbs such as Footscray and Brunswick, where it's been described as more fashionable for hipsters to shop than buy brand new. Shopping in its stores doesn't support any not-for-profit, but Savers buys donated, reusable goods from not-for-profits. Its stores stock clothing and accessories, to shoes, homewares, books and furniture. The firm said the lease would set a new rental rate per square metre record along Melbourne Rd. The site's strategic position, with dual access points, rear loading bays and ample parking, made it a standout opportunity for both investor and tenant. 'The landlord was keen to secure Savers given the strength of the brand and its alignment with the evolving retail landscape,' Mr Nanni said. 'This lease sets a new benchmark for retail along this highly desirable commercial corridor and will finally see this building reactivated to its full potential. 'The arrival of Savers is expected to draw significant foot traffic and further cement North Geelong's status as a thriving retail destination,' Mr Nanni said. Savers has been looking for a site in Geelong for several years, Nathan Brown, manager, large format retail at Colliers said. 'What appealed most about this location was its visibility, accessibility, and strong local catchment,' Mr Brown said. 'It's a high-traffic area with excellent exposure, and the corner positioning offers unbeatable signage opportunities.' Mr Brown said rents are rising significantly across this catchment due to a lack of new developments. 'This has created strong financial outcomes for landlords, with existing buildings, such as this one, benefiting from heightened demand and limited supply in the Greater Geelong area.' Geelong's retail leasing market has seen a surge in activity in recent years, driven by population growth, infrastructure investment, and increased demand from national and international retailers. Key arterials such as Princes Highway, Latrobe Tce, and Torquay Rd have become hotspots for retail expansion, with tenants seeking to capitalise on booming residential corridors.