The iconic Heeler Family home from Australia’s very own mega-hit and award-winning kid’s show, Bluey, was listed on Airbnb in Brisbane. Picture: Hannah Puechmarin for Airbnb
A Paddington rental house that was transformed into the ‘for real life’ home of the mega-hit cartoon character Bluey for a once-in-a-lifetime experience by Airbnb and The British Broadcasting Corporation, is about to be listed for sale.
But the inner-Brisbane home looks nothing like it did a short three weeks ago.
Bluey house no more: Scaffolding is up and the Bluey house facade is coming down. Picture: Steve Pohlner
The inner-city home is being returned to its original state and the BBC has refused to allow the owner or sales team to connect the property to the Bluey brand.
Homeowner Emma Hoskin used to live in the three-bedroom Paddington cottage before she and her partner moved to Bangalow in northern New South Wales last year.
What the Paddington house looked like before it became Bluey’s Heeler Home. Picture: realestate.com.au
The pre-war home on a 405sq m block was listed as a rental and it was during an open for inspection in June 2021 that a scout for Airbnb discovered the property and approached Ms Hoskin with a proposal to lease the home and transform it into the iconic cottage from the cartoon series, Bluey.
Thousands of dollars were spent over months to bring the Queensland-created show to life in Paddington for a short publicity campaign last month between the BBC and Airbnb.
The campaign gave one family a once-in-a-lifetime, two-night stay in Bluey’s Heeler House as part of the global “Only on Airbnb’ program.
Bluey house in Paddington. Picture: Hannah Puechmarin for Airbnb
The renovation of the house was a closely guarded secret with most of the work done under the cover of tarps so as to protect the Bluey brand throughout the build.
“They were pretty ferocious with it,” someone close to the project said of the BBC’s protectiveness over the brand.
The house was renovated and painted almost every colour of the rainbow to reflect the cartoon version.
The Brisbane house of Bluey from the popular kids’ show. Picture:supplied
The facade was altered to include the iconic bay window that was handmade by a local film and television set construction company.
Bluey house in Paddington. Picture: Hannah Puechmarin for Airbnb
Handmade props, toys, rugs, stained-glass window features and a bone-shaped chimney were added.
Even the letterbox had a makeover.
Bluey house in Paddington. Picture: Hannah Puechmarin for Airbnb
But the property is now being returned to its original state as Airbnb’s lease comes to an end on March 21 after the lease was extended by a week.
At least two real estate agencies were approached to sell the house for Ms Hoskin with Chris Gower of Gower Property Group winning the contract.
But the BBC is refusing to allow Ms Hoskin or the sales team to link the house with the Bluey brand for personal commercial gain when it launches to market later this month.
“I’m selling a three-bedroom, one-bathroom, really cute cottage in Paddington,” Mr Gower said.
“It’s an amazing property and if anyone wanted to turn it into something like a Bluey house, that would be a good idea.”
While the Paddington property used in the promotion is not as big as Bluey’s Heeler Home, real estate agents have long speculated that if the Queenslander that Bluey creator Joe Brumm designed was to hit the market it would be worth upwards of $4m.
“If Bluey’s home came to the market today, given its traditional features, timeless architecture with some modern comforts, hilltop location on a generous block and wonderful views to the city, $4m-plus,” Space Property managing director Nick Penklis said, before the actual house was chosen for the campaign.
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