Can you guess what lurks behind these roller doors?

It’s not only quirky businesses taking up shop in these warehouses, but private occupiers who are in need of space to pursue their hobbies, or a unique lifestyle retreat.

Agent Rob Fuller of the Gold Coast’s Beachside Sales is currently representing 1/29a Margaret Street, Southport, which has a workshop downstairs and an American diner upstairs where the current owners enjoy entertaining.

“Wealthy businesspeople living in apartments often don’t have the storage space for boats, classic cars or collections, so warehouses become a secure place to keep them,” he says.

“There was another one I saw on the market not long ago [on the Gold Coast] which had a full bar, poker tables, spa baths – you’d never know from the outside.”

Here are some of the most surprising spaces hidden behind warehouse roller doors.

A giant dog in Alexandria, Qld

Formerly occupied by MNR Constructions, which built sets, brand activations and pop-up projects from scratch, this warehouse in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria hosted one very unusual resident in the form of a giant dog sculpture that stands guard in the industrial fitout. While the building offers all the practical elements expected from a city-fringe industrial asset, it’s the oversized sculpture that immediately captures attention and transforms the space into something closer to an art installation than a traditional warehouse.

Luxury office in Marrickville, NSW

From the outside, this appears to be just another warehouse in Sydney’s Inner West. Inside, however, the space has been transformed into a sophisticated office, more akin to a boutique creative agency’s headquarters than to an industrial unit. High-end finishes, designer furnishings and carefully curated interiors flooded with natural light make for a striking contrast to the building’s industrial shell.

A place to hide the toys in Hope Island, Qld

Purpose-built for collectors, these units on the Gold Coast’s Hope Island demonstrate how industrial property is increasingly being used as a home for luxury assets. Marketed as secure vehicle storage and lifestyle units, the development offers owners a place to house their prized cars, boats and recreational equipment while providing a premium environment in which to enjoy them.

Vintage fashion archive in Noosaville, Qld

Hidden behind the roller door of this Sunshine Coast warehouse is a treasure trove of vintage fashion. The property is currently used to house rack upon rack of carefully curated clothing, most likely destined for the many vintage stores that populate the region.

Fleet of military vehicles in Thurgoona, NSW

Few warehouse inspections begin with a convoy of military vehicles. Previously occupied by Australian Frontline Machinery, this substantial industrial property in the Albury suburb of Thurgoona has housed an impressive collection of ex-defence vehicles and specialised equipment.

Cat hotel in Brunswick, Vic

In the inner-Melbourne suburb of Brunswick, one industrial property has been transformed into a boutique boarding facility for cats. Behind the roller door are carefully designed spaces intended to provide comfort, enrichment and security for feline guests.

Kayak headquarters in Bayswater, Vic

This Bayswater, Melbourne, warehouse hosts an extensive collection of kayaks, paddling equipment and outdoor gear. What appears from the street to be a standard industrial unit is in fact filled with equipment designed to launch adventurers into rivers, lakes and open water.

An American diner hidden in Southport, Qld

Perhaps the most surprising warehouse transformation is that of a Southport unit marketed by Rob Fuller.

The owner, a builder, secretly constructed a fully themed American diner on the mezzanine level of the Gold Coast property as a surprise for his wife, complete with booths, memorabilia, a jukebox and diner-style decor. The space sits above a functional workshop and vehicle storage area.