WHITSUNDAY FANTASIA

Ralph and Janet Hogan’s long-cherished dream of creating a tropical Garden of Eden is reaching fruition.

By the time they have completed Botanica Estate off Paluma Road, Cannonvale, they will have spent over $400,000 on landscaping their development which is already drawing hordes of sightseers who come to admire the grand avenue of 200 statuesque triangle palms lining Botanica Drive.

Their next project is no less ambitious: a massive transplant of 200 or so robelini palms which will line the access road to The Ridge, the second stage of Botanica comprising 12 elevated seaview blocks of land which will be released to the market on January 22.

“Ralph has always had a fascination with weird and wonderful plants,” says Janet. “Now his passion is to turn Botanica Estate into a fantasia of tropical species that will create a unique environment for the people living here.”

The Hogans believe they’ve still got ten years of no-expense-spared landscaping ahead of them.

Earmarked for completion this year are the Botanica Lily Pond and the Sea Lily Creek walk which will be open to the public.

The Hogans’ own house at Botanica Waterfront is being planted with what will be one of Australia’s largest cactus collections, along with cycads, aroids and a wet rainforest area.

“It’s gratifying to know that we’re not alone in our love of private, natural living environments; Stage One seaview lots sold quickly with resales earning those investors who got in early profits in excess of $100,000 in just a few months. The Ridge offers buyers a similar opportunity to buy off the plan.”

The Hogans believe that The Ridge offers the best of both worlds – an exclusive gated, community-title estate protected by 80 acres of pristine bushland, yet only a few minutes’ drive from the tropical fast lane of bustling, cosmopolitan Airlie Beach.

“With so much of the Whitsundays set aside for high density development, the three things everyone will be looking for in the very near future will be views, space and privacy. The Ridge offers all that,” said Janet, “within a botanical environment that makes it truly special.”

For further details of Botanica Estate contact Mark Beale at Ray White Whitsunday, 308 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach – phone 07 4948 8507 or 0404 498 790, email: mark.beale@raywhite.com, www.raywhitewhitsunday.com.