Perched above the Walsh River and surrounded by savannah bushland, sits a contemporary rural home designed by Julianne McAlloon Architects. The Walsh River House boasts stunning views of the adjoining lake and bushland landscape at Arriga, west of Mareeba. I was out here recently to do the architecture photography of the home, including drone imagery to showcase it’s design and breath-taking hilltop position.
Built over three levels, the top level accommodates the master bedroom with a verandah to provide 360 degrees views over the entire property. Due to it’s remote, off-grid location, power is provided by a combination of solar panels and water-turbine generation from the property’s dam. The microclimate of the area – little rain, dusty winds, summer heat and winter chills – dictated major design elements including wide overhangs and surrounding verandah to exclude summer sun and to funnel cool breezes. Additionally, thick stone walls of cavity construction were incorporated to keep the heat out in summer and cold in winter.
Here are some of the aerial and ground based shots of this majestic residence.
The Walsh River House overlooking savannah bushland from its hilltop location
