BABINDA’S beloved heritage guesthouse, Babinda Quarters, is officially on the market, offering a rare opportunity for a creative visionary or entrepreneurial spirit to take command of one of Far North Queensland’s most unique and historic properties.
With its misty rainforest mountain backdrop and rich architectural charm, Babinda Quarters is more than a guesthouse – it’s a living legacy, shaped by two generations of passionate restorers.
Built in 1953 as accommodation for nurses at Babinda Hospital, the art deco landmark was saved from dereliction in 2014 by Margaret Perpetua Nelson, fondly known as Maggie.
A lifelong enthusiast of heritage buildings, she lovingly transformed the almost derelict property into a vibrant guesthouse.
After Ms Nelson died after a long battle with cancer in 2020, her daughter, Kim Marsden, embarked on a five-year commitment to rejuvenating the ‘grand old dame’ with care, creativity and a deep sense of purpose in tribute to her late mum.
“I challenged myself to make Babinda Quarters realise its tourism potential and, in so doing, help fund repairs,” Ms Marsden said.
“Our overnight guests were key players in helping save the building and I am so grateful for bringing life into the building, adding to its warmth and ostensibly providing support,” she said.
Now, with the first restoration phase largely complete and a new chapter calling, Babinda Quarters is offered for sale as a freehold property and licensed guesthouse.
Just 50 minutes’ drive south of Cairns and moments from the Wooroonooran National Park, the triple-brick art deco building sits on an elevated 2924sqm block. It features 20 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a manager’s quarters and a newly built rear deck – all framed by heritage terrazzo, timber and glass detailing.
Ms Marsden said Babinda Quarters would best suit a motivated buyer with innovative energy, a love for community connection and a passion for heritage character.
“Guests are increasingly seeking authentic places with colour and history,” she said.
“This is not a cookie-cutter motel – it’s part boutique guesthouse, part artist retreat, part old-school adventure.”
Inside, Babinda Quarters is a sensory feast, full of special ‘moments’ bursting with colour, creativity and its own special blend of charming quirk and character.
A music lounge, crowned by a vintage Bernstein baby grand piano, sits at the heart of the building, surrounded by an eclectic mix of instruments, from guitars to ukuleles, inviting spontaneous jam sessions and soulful reflection.
Each guest room and shared space is adorned with handpicked works by local artists.
The building’s flexible layout offers ample opportunity for new owners to expand or reimagine its potential – as a wellness retreat, creative hub, eco-lodge or continued as a guesthouse.
For price and inspection details, contact Diane Bray at Professionals Edge Hill on 0404 654 345.
