A home built on the site of a house destroyed by fire has hit the market in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held inner-city pockets, where just eight houses are currently for sale as Woolloongabba prepares for major transformation.
Glen Wruck and his wife Alma Accornero bought the vacant block at 8 School Street after the former home was destroyed by fire on Boxing Day 2018.
They removed the remaining slab and built a new five-bedroom home with Hezzelic Homes, originally planning to stay for just 12 months.
“We thought we’d build it, live here for a year or two and move on, but we fell in love with the home and location. Before we’d even built the house the neighbours invited us to the street Christmas party,” Mr Wruck said.
Four years later, they’re finally selling. “Apparently, that’s what has happened in this street for about 30 years. People move here and they don't want to leave. We certainly didn’t.”
Just eight houses are advertised for sale in Woolloongabba, as the inner-city suburb prepares for billions of dollars of infrastructure and redevelopment ahead of Brisbane 2032.
The transformation includes the new underground Cross River Rail station and plans for a nine-hectare Gabba entertainment and housing precinct anchored by a proposed 17,000-seat indoor arena.
Place Bulimba partner and selling agent Paula Pearce, who’s marketing the property with Jodie Cevallos, said the low number of houses available highlighted how tightly held Woolloongabba had become. “Eight houses for sale in an inner-city suburb tells you how difficult it can be to get into this pocket; then you look at what’s being delivered around Woolloongabba over the next decade. Buyers have this extraordinary level of investment coming while these established residential streets remain incredibly tightly held.
“This pocket is only going to become more desirable as major transport, entertainment and lifestyle infrastructure is delivered around them,” Mrs Pearce said.
Completed in 2022, the 453sqm home has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living areas and four-car accommodation on a 400sqm block.
It was deliberately designed to sit comfortably among the suburb’s older homes rather than dominate the streetscape.
“From the street it is simple and in keeping with the area. It’s when you walk inside that you go, ‘wow’,” Mr Wruck said.
The home features solid American oak floors, a 2.9m stone kitchen island, six metres of kitchen bench space, 11.8kW solar system, Tesla EV charger and a six-star energy rating.
The home’s layout also provides flexibility for families with older children or relatives, with a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor creating separation from the main upstairs accommodation.
“We designed downstairs so someone could have their own space,” Mr Wruck said.
“If you’ve got older children at university who aren’t quite ready to leave home, or a parent living with you, they can have that independence without feeling like everyone is on top of each other.”
With their children now in homes of their own, the couple is downsizing but has no plans to stray far from the inner city.
Mr Wruck said the location ultimately kept them there far longer than expected.
“You can walk to South Bank in about 15 minutes. You’re close to the hospitals, the city and the universities, but at night you wouldn’t even know you’re this close to everything,” he said.
8 School Street, Woolloongabba is being marketed by Place Bulimba’s Paula Pearce and Jodie Cevallos, with top offers closing Tuesday, October 20 at 4pm.
