A modern house with a wooden and metal exterior, a triangular metal roof, and a small front porch. There is a leafless tree in the foreground with a winding stone pathway leading to the entrance. Currumbin Architecture Photography Joey Bailey

A Modern Australian Bush Sanctuary on Currumbin Creek

Commissioned by Phoenix Tapware, this Currumbin Creek residence is a grounded and quietly confident interpretation of Australian bush modern architecture. Set along the creek on the southern Gold Coast, the home draws from mid-century modern influence and the raw, blue-collar character of Australia’s South Coast, referencing working coastal buildings and steel-working sheds shaped by function rather than finish.

Designed by architect and owner Jack Tarrant, the house was never intended to follow the rules. Instead, it was designed around family values, the way they actually live, and a deep connection to the surrounding landscape. Influenced by travel, nature and the outdoors, the home feels grounded, raw and honest rather than polished for the sake of it. No trends. Just something real.

These ideas are carried through the architecture itself. Natural materials, warm timber tones and generous proportions give the home a tactile, lived-in quality, with a strong connection to the creek and surrounding landscape. The architecture feels settled and calm, designed to age gracefully rather than chase a moment in time.

Material choices favour durability and restraint. Minimal detailing places emphasis on proportion, junctions and the way materials meet, while natural light plays a central role in shaping the spaces throughout the day. Interiors shift subtly as light moves across surfaces, reinforcing the home’s sense of permanence and everyday use.

The photographic approach was observational, documenting the architecture and Phoenix Tapware as they exist in use, relying on morning and afternoon golden hour and minimal intervention. Alongside digital captures, 35mm film was used to introduce a subtle nostalgic tone that enhances the warmth and texture of the home’s timber materials.

View more Gold Coast & Byron Bay architecture photography by Joey Bailey

Interior view of a modern living room with wooden walls, a leather sofa, a small table with magazines, and a potted plant, with a stairway leading to a second-floor balcony, Gold Coast Interior Photography by Joey Bailey
Modern kitchen with wooden paneling on walls and ceiling, gray tiled backsplash, concrete countertop with a sink, a wooden bowl, and a vase of flowers, illuminated by sunlight casting shadows, Gold Coast Interior Photography by Joey Bailey
  • Open indoor living area with wooden walls, ceiling, and furniture, featuring a dining table, chairs, a sitting area with leather sofas, a fireplace, and an outdoor patio with additional seating. Currumbin Architecture Photography Joey Bailey
  • Modern dining area with wooden table and chairs, kitchen with light gray backsplash, and large windows overlooking trees. Currumbin Architecture Photography Joey Bailey
  • A modern house with a wooden deck and large glass windows, partially obscured by a large leafless tree in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky. Currumbin Architecture Photography Joey Bailey
  • Modern bathroom with bathtub, potted plant, and towel rack. Currumbin Architecture Photography Joey Bailey
  • Sunlit dining area with wooden table and chairs, adjacent to an outdoor deck, featuring curtains and indoor plants. Currumbin Architecture Photography Joey Bailey

Alongside the photography, a cinematic film was created to capture the calm atmosphere of the home and its connection to Currumbin Creek. Filmed during the softer light of the day and into golden hour, the visuals focus on slow, considered movement that highlights the sanctuary-like setting and relationship between the architecture, landscape and water.

(Film / Edit / Directing)