Development disagreements in the 1980s persuaded English expat (at the time a recent Logan local) and passionate environmentalist Margaret Greenway to buy a plot of land in Cornubia.
Her husband and other local environmentalists did the same, hoping their actions would limit construction damage and deforestation to the surrounding bushland ecosystem.
Years later, in 1994, Ms Greenway commissioned an architect to build a house from western red cedar wood on that same plot of land.
The house, 30 Aster Court, is now up for sale, more than three decades later.
“We wanted to preserve as many trees as possible, and we got an architect to nestle the house into the trees so it’s very well suited to the environment,” Ms Greenway said.
“In the late 1980s, the council wanted to develop the area that is now Park View Crescent in Cornubia as a high-density development, but it was very environmentally sensitive with koalas, wallabies, greater gliders, and beautiful old growth trees.
“So a group of local residents objected, including the Logan Wildlife Preservation Society.”
The group of residents worked closely with developer JV Marshall to reach a compromise and maintain as much of the natural environment as possible. General manager of JV Marshall, Graham Marshall, eventually agreed to make 30% of the development area parklands.
“My husband and I bought three blocks of land purely to preserve nature,” Ms Greenway said.
“I bought the one which is now number 30, and my husband bought block number 28, which is next door.
“But three years ago, my husband very generously donated the whole of his block to the council as a park to add to the Hideaway Mountain Park.”
Ms Greenway and her husband never lived in the dual-level home; instead, they rented it out mainly to families.
“It was always designed to be a rental property, because it really was for investment, because we bought the land and we were paying a lot of rates on the land,” she said.
“It’s a split-level home, and there are timber decks and verandas on both levels, so you could sit outside on the decks, you won’t see any other houses, no one can see, and you can just look out over the trees.”
Ms Greenway said she has often seen wallabies, cockatoos, king parrots, kookaburras, and lorikeets from the property’s verandahs.
A separate bedroom, living area, and bathroom downstairs make the property particularly good for extended families or families with slightly older children, Ms Greenway said.
Just after Covid, when interest rates were low, Ms Greenway listed 30 Aster Court for sale, hoping to capitalise on the market frenzy and increased demand from buyers.
She took it off the market when interest rates crept up to higher levels, choosing again to rent it out until she found a suitable buyer.
Previous renters of the property have been a mix of families and couples, but Ms Greenway said she wanted someone who loved the bush and respected the environment to buy the property.
“For example, there was a couple that came by a couple of times and said they wanted to knock down some of the trees to put a swimming pool in,” Ms Greenway said.
“This is a hideaway amongst trees if you want to knock down trees, find a block of land that doesn’t have trees on it.”
Although the house is surrounded by bushland, shops, including the Hyperdome, and schools are only 5 minutes away by car. “The location is amazing,” Ms Greenway said.
Two years ago, a plaque was installed in Cornubia Forest Park, which acknowledges Ms Greenway and the contribution of other local community members in preserving the nature that today is enjoyed as parklands by the community.
