The Bonogin property with a quirky holiday cabin is going to auction

This Gold Coast property was designed by a renowned architect – but a 100-year-old secret in its backyard has become its biggest money spinner.

While a luxury home drives the estate’s multimillion-dollar price tag, a dilapidated wood cutter’s cabin hiding in the bush was reborn as a lucrative side hustle.

The main house at 14 Fowler Ct, Bonogin was built in 2007 and designed by Michael Witty, the celebrated architect behind mega-mansions such as Bellagio La Villa at Tallebudgera.

But the quirky cottage came as a surprise to owners Marlon Sayer and Romolo Romeo when they purchased the 3.04ha property for $1.6m in 2016.

The 1932 timber cottage is surrounded by rainforest

It operates as a guest-favourite holiday rental property

“When we were at the inspection I asked, ‘What’s that building?’ The agent told me, ‘That is just a dilapidated old cabin, you probably don’t even want to look in there’,” retiree Mr Sayer said.

“There were no snakes in there, but certainly there were spiders and visible mould spores.

“It was in such bad condition the agent didn’t even want to step foot inside it, which was probably why it wasn’t mentioned in any of the marketing material.”

They pair first renovated the primary residence, installing a showstopping underground wine cellar and a new kitchen.

“The house appears as quite a semicircle from the air. It is pretty unique and we love it,” Mr Sayer said.

Original A-frame roof and exposed beam ceilings were retained

A new kitchen and bathroom were added to the two-bedroom log cabin

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Then came the gutsy DIY rescue of the 1932-built log cabin. The owners delved into its history, uncovering a link to pioneering timber-hauler Frederick Fowler – the street’s namesake – whose stray bullock inspired the naming of Nobby Beach after being found resting on the headland.

The owners salvaged the shack’s original cedar exterior and slate flooring, handpainted fireplace bricks and installed a new kitchen, also enclosing the bathroom and adding decking.

Today, the two-bedroom rainforest retreat is a guest-favourite holiday rental. It fetches about $300 a night, earning the hosts between $45,000 and $50,000 a year.

“It is a magical spot,” Mr Sayer said.

The main home was crafted with suspended concrete slabs and steel frames

It has a 120,000-litre pool, outdoor barbecue terrace, and sweeping valley views

For a horse-loving buyer, Mr Sayer said the cabin’s income easily “covers the cost of the horses” on the estate’s rare flat equestrian paddocks, dam and stables.

Beyond the cabin, standout features of the four-bedroom main house include soaring New Guinea Rosewood ceilings, a 600-bottle subterranean wine cellar, and a 120,000-litre pool flanked by a terrace with new outdoor kitchen.

After 10 years, the retired owners are downsizing. Selling agents Hayley Kidson and Marco De Vincentiis of Kollosche take the home to auction on October 30.

The modern kitchen has sleek granite benches

Soaring raked ceilings and New Guinea rosewood finishes inside