News Corp Australia
First published 19 Mar 2025, 5:00am
A builder who has spent almost two decades creating his dream home – but failed to get the necessary development approvals – has finally conceded defeat and put his enchanting Adelaide Hills property on the market.
Whoever purchases ”Rainbow’s End’’, a bespoke retreat at 12 McHarg Creek Rd, Bull Creek, will not be able to move in until they retrospectively gain council consent – without it, the builder’s efforts have all been in vain.
Selling agent Christie Thornton, of Raine and Horne, said the builder had spent the past year “ticking boxes” to be permitted to live in the grand stone-walled home but was now “burnt out” and looking to move on.
This Bull Creek home took two years to build but buyers may not be able to live in it.
The stunning home has no building approval.
However, plans are in place to get the home across the line so that it can be lived in, in the future.
“He’s just got to the point where he realises it’s all too much – his health and age are a factor and…he just can’t carry on,” Ms Thornton said.
“He’s spent 15 to 20 years (building) it. He had the initial planning approval – that was all done – but as he was building he had to adapt and change a few things…and he changed the plans but didn’t go back to council (to get the amended plans approved).
“It’s sad. This was his dream.
“He lives in a shed on the property (because it is illegal to live in the house without development approval) and (the property) just feels like a workplace to him – it’s never felt like home.”
The home, built with reclaimed timber, stained glass windows and décor collected from the builder’s travels overseas, is listed for sale with a price guide of $795,000 to $865,000.
Had the appropriate building consents been in place, Ms Thornton expected it could have fetched more than $1m.
She said interest in the home, which is essentially just two large rooms – a downstairs bedroom and an upstairs kitchen, with a sunken living area and a second, mezzanine bedroom, would likely come from other builders or someone “who isn’t afraid of what’s to come”.
The home’s unique front door.
One of the bedrooms.
A view of the backyard.
The home is set on 9.19ha of forest-like grounds, planted with eucalyptus trees known to be favoured by koalas, which could also prompt interest from commercial buyers who could see potential for the property to become a successful Airbnb, Ms Thornton said.
While she would not be drawn on the costs required to get the necessary building consents – or the time it would take – Ms Thornton understood only minor compliance changes were needed to the home, including filling gaps with fire-safe silicone and replacing existing window screens with fire-safe products.
“From what I have heard from the architect and surveyor, they say there’s not much left to do (before council consent can be obtained),” Ms Thornton said.
“It’s just ticking a few boxes and getting documents signed – stat decs (statutory declarations) and a few bits and pieces.
“He (the builder) is 90 per cent there. It’s 10 per cent away from being done.”
– By Lauren Ahwan
English (US) · 