The Neilsen Villas at Burleigh Heads have been listed for sale
A Burleigh Heads property originally built by surf industry legends, the Neilsen brothers, has been listed for sale.
World champion wave rider Paul and his board-shaping brother Rick, who founded The Brothers Neilsen retail empire with their other sibling, Len, lived side-by-side with their respective families, in twin villas designed to showcase epic coastal views.
The brothers sold the 1970s-built duplex in 2004 to a couple who undertook a major renovation before onselling to the current owners in 2011.
The pair of villas at 20 Mount St is marketed by Edward Smyth, of Collectiv Asset Management, via an expressions of interest campaign closing September 20.
Living areas open onto a sandstone-tiled entertaining terrace
The villas are in a secluded position on the hill above bustling Burleigh Heads
Each three-storey residence has an open-plan living and dining area plus kitchen, with three bedrooms located on the upper floor.
Downstairs is a large office or recreation space, which was where the iconic Brothers Neilsen surfboards took shape.
“The current owners call that area the Board Room,” Mr Smyth said.
“That was where Rick used to shape the boards and the brothers would sit there and look out to check the swell.”
Today, the villas exude a contemporary, coastal style, but echoes of their retro past remain, including original brick walls which were incorporated into the new architectural design.
The kitchen, though renovated with stone benchtops and European appliances, still stands in its old position — it was a morning ritual for the brothers to pause here, watching barrels roll in over their morning coffee.
Paul Neilsen was a champion big-wave surfer
Neilsen Brothers iconic surfboards were shaped in a large workshop space downstairs
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“Each villa is a classy re-build of the original Neilsen lodge with unobstructed and exceptional coastal views from Burleigh Heads to North Stradbroke and beyond,” Mr Smyth said.
“The custodians on the hill all report that properties here also benefit from a microclimate where it is a few degrees warmer in winter and cooler in summer.”
Property features include high ceilings and wide glass slider doors opening onto a sandstone-tiled al fresco entertaining deck, while the villas were engineered for structural integrity and environmental efficiency.
Mr Smyth said buyers could choose to live in one duplex and rent out the other, or combine both to create a large family home.
Master bedroom with private balcony
Founded in 1971, The Brothers Neilsen operated ten shops across southeast Queensland prior to its collapse during the global financial crisis in 2008.
The family’s entrepreneurial spirit was passed to the next generation, with Paul’s three sons, Danny, Kris and Matt behind the popular Mermaid Beach retail concept, Alfred’s Apartment.
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