Dubbed as the greatest community fundraiser the Sunshine Coast has seen The House the Coast Built opened on a Sunday for a three week display period prior to auction back on July 12, 2003.
Sunday afternoon's VIP function and community street party marked the end of a three month building project which saw local businesses unite to build a home from donated goods and services.
Local builder Emerald Homes coordinated the project with extensive support from 92.7MIX FM, the Sunshine Coast Daily and Seven Sunshine Coast. The local building industry rallied in support of the fundraiser from day one, donating building products, a swimming pool, smart wiring, security system, air conditioning and furniture.
Aluminium Balustrades and Aquatic Playgrounds Tony Silver installed and completed the pool area. The concrete pool was completed with help from Ensbey Earthmoving, Tenkate and Onesteel Reinforcing, in plenty of time for the landscaping "weekend makeover" scheduled for the 14th and 15th June.
Sunshine Coast Gardeners Paradise answered the final plea for paving assistance laying pavers donated by Besser Masonery. Project coordinator Emerald Homes also launched the "Car In the garage" fund with a $10,000 donation towards including a car in the garage of the home to be auctioned on July 12.
Saturday prior to the auction saw a working bee of twenty volunteers including families from the local primary school Our Lady of the Rosary laying turf and adding the final touches to the garden designed by local landscape designer Jim Lesley.
Local celebrities and all supporters of the project were invited to take part in the celebrity tree planting on Sunday morning followed by a presentation and street party from 12noon.
The home was auctioned by no reserve auction on Saturday July 12, 2003. Furniture on display in the home was auctioned separately along with the 1990 Ford ute donated by Emerald Homes Director Anthony Benz and a new Ford vehicle.
Net proceeds from the auction benefited the Sunshine Coast Health Services Foundation's $1.5 million campaign that established the Sunshine Coast Cancer Centre.
