Keeping FAITH

THIS CENTURY-OLD CHURCH IN YEPPOON IS NOW A STUNNING HOLIDAY HOME WHERE THE OWNERS ENJOY ITS SERENE LOCATION ON QUEENSLAND’S CAPRICORN COAST

- CLAIRE MACTAGGART

HEAVENLY VIsta With lofty views of the Capricorn Coast and Keppel Bay Islands, this relocated former church is now at home on Meikleville Hill in Yeppoon. Robyn and Hilary (pictured opposite) fell in love with St James the Fisherman Anglican Church and began a two-year-long transformation into an easy, coastal holiday home. A wide verandah features balustrade detailing designed by the couple to provide additional support and definition.

The hardwood adirondack chairs were found at Bunnings and Robyn and Hilary later painted the pair with Dulux Antique White U.S.A. “Being in Yeppoon is like coming home again, we’ve spent a lot of time here and we’ve had lots of adventures on our boat. We are lucky,” Robyn says.

The moment Robyn arrives and steps onto the verandah of their beach house at Yeppoon, she instantly feels more relaxed. Framed by coastal scrubland and with a sweeping vista from Keppel Bay Marina to the furthermost point of Farnborough beach, it’s easy to see why. “We are tucked away on the hill here and it’s so lovely and peaceful to look at the sea from our hideaway,” 74-year-old Robyn says.

Based in Rockhampton, both Hilary, 76, a retired paediatrician and Robyn – who along with daughter Kate runs Something Different clothing and homewares boutiques in Rockhampton and Yeppoon – share happy holiday memories of the seaside town.