Rock around the clock inside this quirky Southport warehouse
An unassuming warehouse tucked behind a roller door in Southport is hiding something few would expect: a fully fitted retro American diner complete with booths, jukebox, memorabilia and a giant mural straight out of the TV show Happy Days.
The quirky space at 1/29a Margaret Street has hit the market with a price guide of $1.1 million, offering buyers not only warehouse storage and workspace, but a place for entertaining or practising the twist.
The warehouse totals 124 square metres, comprising 83 square metres on the ground floor and 41 square metres on the mezzanine level.
The current owner originally used the warehouse to store tools and equipment for his building business, with the upstairs diner a more recent addition to the space, secretly constructed by the owner as a surprise for his wife’s milestone birthday.
“It’s really well done. He sourced all the furniture, booths, the jukebox and the decor. It genuinely feels like stepping into an old American diner,” said Fuller.
The sale includes all of these unique fixtures: the jukebox, microwave, ice maker, air fryer, large-screen wall-hung TV, all cabinetry and the fridge.
Downstairs remains highly functional, with storage space for six vehicles or boats, plus a high-lift two-car hoist.
Fuller said the property would likely appeal to a mix of collectors, small-business owners who could also use the upstairs as a break room or office, and buyers seeking a lifestyle-oriented storage solution.
The listing highlights the increasingly unconventional ways warehouse spaces are being utilised, particularly in apartment-heavy urban areas where buyers are searching for secure storage, hobby spaces and somewhere to entertain.
The property is within a private complex of just five strata-titled warehouse units. It features an electric gated entrance, on-site parking, easy turning areas and a full security camera system with direct owner alerts.
According to Fuller, some warehouse owners have gone even further with their customisations.
“I saw one nearby that had been transformed into a full nightclub with bars, poker tables and spa baths,” he said.
“You’d be surprised what’s hidden behind some of these roller doors … not everyone has a house with a backyard, a shed and room for all their hobbies anymore,” he said. “These spaces become an extension of people’s lifestyles.”
