A GOLD Coast beach shack that was mistakenly built in the wrong street in the 1940s is going under the hammer.
The Mermaid Beach property at 34-36 Arthur St has been in Richard Fetherston’s family since 1928.
The two-bedroom beach shack at 34-36 Arthur St, Mermaid Beach is going to auction this month.
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“My grandfather actually built the cottage around 1940,” the 71-year-old said.
“It was built in the same position but two streets over in Alfred St.
“It was there for nine years before the titles office told him he had to move it,” Mr Fetherston said.
“There were hardly any houses in those days and it was on stumps so they were able to move is straight across the dunes.
“They even took the outhouse (the toilet) across as well.”
The beach shack, bottom right, has stood the test of time.
Mr Fetherston, who lives in Brisbane, said he enjoyed many family holidays at Arthur St.
“I have been going down there since I was born,” he said.
“My grandfather’s uncle actually bought the property but passed it on to my grandfather as he couldn’t afford the rates – it was the start of The Great Depression years.
“Back then there wasn’t too many houses, there were no high-rises and there was a lot of vacant blocks.”
The shack from the street.
“A lot of the streets only had a narrow strip of bitumen, there was no curving or channelling or footpaths.”
He said the house blocks in Mermaid Beach were long to fit more houses in.
“When the land was subdivided they wanted to get as many blocks on the street as they could,” he said.
“It didn’t matter in the old days as most of the houses were just little holiday places.
“Now it’s residential and the shape of your house is really determined by the block.”
The beach shack sits on a double block at 34-36 Arthur St, Mermaid Beach.
As for what the future held, Mr Fetherston said his family knew Mermaid Beach was special but did not expect it to change so drastically.
“It just got more and more popular,” he said.
“It’s hard to get an accurate picture of what a place is going to be like in the future.
“It’s just a shame there wasn’t more thought into the area as it’s hard to find a carparking spot now if you’re visiting for the day.”
An aerial view of leafy 34-36 Arthur St, Mermaid Beach.
His family’s two-bedroom cottage has had some restoration work over the years including a small extension to include the toilet, shower and laundry within the house.
The 809sq m property is going to auction on July 23 through Professionals Henderson Real Estate’s Luke Henderson and Matt Maguire.
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