- Old-Fashioned News Scoop: Sold! An Island Oasis Off Chester – Realtor/Broker Piers Baker Briefly Listed Kaulback Island – A Listing Where You Could Dream Of Spending Your Days Walking On The Shore – Or Better Yet Walking On Waves
By Andrew Macdonald
Halifax-South Shore realtor & broker Piers Baker had an island oasis briefly listed recently on the market.
Off the body of Mahone Bay waters, with access by boat from The Village of Chester, or a wharf at Indian Point, the island is prized for its vast acreage and dwellings built to impeccable tastes in 2002.
I spoke to Baker weeks ago about the listing at Kaulback Island, but when I went to check Baker’s Duckworth Real Estate website Sunday afternoon, I see the island sold – quickly.
It was only on the market for ten days, before a buyer from Europe put an accepted offer on the property. Sources detailed the European buyer – but I will have to do more digging to get an identity of the buyer’s name.
Baker double-ended the deal – meaning he represented both the buyer and seller. That would be a sweet commission, I would guess.
Chester-Halifax realtor Piers Baker. His go-to coffee spot is the popular Kiwi Cafe in Downtown Chester (The Notebook).
A Nova Scotia family were the seller.
There are no neighbours on Kaulback, which is one of 365 islands in Mahone Bay waters.
Piers put a commanding price tag on Kaulback: C $6,000,000 or US +/-$4,369,800; or € +/-3,793,600
The main house looks like it would fit well in the mansions dotting Cape Cod.
Kaulback Island has just sold. Piers Baker had the listing at $6M Canadian. Sources tell The Macdonald Notebook the buyer is from Europe. Baker is owner and broker at Duckworth Realty (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
The property is known as Kaulback Island, last on the market between 2010-2020.
The original owners sold after building what would represent a cost of $20M in housing, according to Piers.
An archived story in The Macdonald Notebook reported a Nova Scotian family bought it in 2020. The original home owner first put the property on the market in 2010 – it took them ten years to sell it. The developers of the multi-house complex with no island neighbours originally went on the market at a commanding $9.5 million in 2010, and in 2015 the price dropped to $6.95M. It sold in 2020 for $4M. Piers listed it for $6M Canadian.
The original owners brought all the materials over from Indian Point off of my friend John Bourinot’s house/wharf. His dad owned the first Canadian Tire at Young and Davenport in Toronto. Baker went to Lakefield College with John.
Kaulback Island has just sold, it was listed by Piers Baker, the broker at Duckworth Realty. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
The original owners, a male couple, were from Texas, and they invented the chip that is in everyone’s bank card/visa.
“They probably spent over 20M on the project, if I had to guess,” surmises Baker, in an interview just weeks ago.
There is no word when the deal closes, at which time, the sales price would have to be disclosed.
“The (original owners) “were also arborists and collected rare trees. One of the trees is a California Redwood. The oldest tree species on earth. It was around the time the dinosaurs were here. It lives 1000 – 1200 years!,” Baker adds.
Kaulback Island contains 57-acres – and no island neighbours. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
In his listing marketing material, Baker says the listing is “everything and more – Palatial Kaulback Island.”
“The ultimate Cape Cod grand estate with unparalleled privacy, natural beauty, and raw oceanfront in every direction. A retreat unlike any other, all three residences have 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms (5 ensuite) and 2 additional powder rooms,” adds Baker.
“At 57 acres, Kaulback stands proudly as one of the largest islands in Mahone Bay. The main residence: “Osprey Nest”, is 7,700 sq ft, perched at the highest elevation with remarkable views down the lush lawns to neighbouring islands; Bella, Spectacle and Masons Island across the waters. A remarkably full vista of sea life, weather patterns and sailboats out past the ocean to the horizon,” says Baker.
In addition to a mansion, there are other houses, a guest house or home for workers that might be needed to maintain the island. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
“Encircle the 1.8 KM of shoreline to achieve 10,000 daily steps or discover the many woodland trails. A secret sandy beach on the western flank at low tide, and a 150-foot sandy beach adjacent to the wharf, is a perfect place to set up a few beach chairs,” the listing cut sheet says.
“An arborist’s dream come true, featuring a diverse collection of rare, imported trees, extensive landscaping and gorgeous meadows and grasslands, as well as a Lily pad pond.”
Constructed in 2002 with every modern standard, the material and design detail has been curated, presenting an aesthetic to mimic a century home. No expense was spared in the project, says Baker.
There is a wharf on Kaulback Island, an island off of Chester, which had briefly been listed for $6M C. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
“Stepping through the front door of Osprey Nest, one is greeted with a grand foyer, vaulted ceiling and banister staircase. Meticulous details in craftsmanship are evident with the panelled walls and Arts and Crafts dentil crown moulding. Through to the dining room commanding ocean sightlines unfold, and multiple French doors to the deck provide a great post dinner retreat. Adjacent grand rooms, including the pine panelled living room, oak library with oriental rugs, and music room, each have their own decadent ambiance and character. The east end features a screened-in sunroom with slate flooring and beach stone fireplace. All the bells and whistles are here in the kitchen, for premiere entertaining, or the consummate chef, soapstone counters, copious cabinetry space for dish/cookware, island & main farmhouse double sink, Viking six element gas stove, KitchenAid dishwashers, ice maker, two panelled fridges, two microwaves and two ovens. Next door is a servery for overflow preparation duties. Several powder rooms, a sitting room, bar room and a private “telephone room” speak to design details of formal estates. A ground-floor bedroom with an ensuite as well as laundry facilities completes the layout,” says Baker’s marketing material.
The main mansion at Kaulback Island models a Cape Cod residence. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
“The second floor continues to delight with six bedrooms/bathrooms, walk-in closets. The enormous master bedroom features a coffee station and a private balcony. Seven fireplaces throughout will keep everyone’s toes warm throughout all seasons. Extensive south-facing deck (1450 sq/ft) is a premiere spot to host an event, unwind after a day’s activities or simply watch the amazing landscape of weather patterns unfold,” he adds.
“The current owners regularly see a family of porpoises swimming/jumping up the eastern straight by Bella Island, so nature abounds! A third-floor “lighthouse” office pokes up in secrecy for the ultimate escape.”
Built in 2002, Kaulback Island was briefly on the market for $6M C. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
Above the two-bay garage, a bedroom/bathroom, living/dining/kitchen guest suite is conveniently on the other side of the breezeway. The three-bedroom 1500 sq/ft guest house could easily be used for hired help on the island, and an additional 540 ft waterfront cottage is a true destination for special guests. Over 1000 sq/ft of space in four additional outbuildings (guest house barn, waterfront barn, dockside shed and power field house). Newly built additions include the 110 X 14 ft solar panel field and dockside pergola for sunset barbecues, adds Baker.
“Depending on the wind direction, climates vary considerably from one side of the island to the other. So, plan your day accordingly! A 92-foot wharf with four floats ensures deep water access.”
All furnishings are included in the sale, featuring a mint grand piano, essential golf cart(s), transportation, lawn maintenance equipment, and wharf floats/ramps.
“Quality of craftsmanship is evident with the solid oak doors, built-in bookshelves, bay window seating, and intricate crown moulding. An undersea power cable from the mainland brings electricity, while there are also high-speed internet connections and satellite television,” notes Baker.
The expansive dining room at Kaulback Island. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
How do you access Kaulback Island? Well, Baker says: “The island is a short boat ride from many points; yacht clubs (Chester and Lunenburg), marinas (Oak Island, Gold River, South Shore). Both Indian Point and Martins Point are a mile away.”
“A flurry of neighbouring islands, each one an ecological masterpiece, provides shelter from the occasional storm. A great number of the islands are under the protection of MICA (Mahone Bay Island Conservation Association), so this developed island has become a rarity,” explains Baker.
“The island is equidistant to Chester, Mahone Bay and the UNESCO Heritage town of Lunenburg. Come celebrate life in Chester where everything is possible, including fine art at Going Coastal, theatre at the Chester Playhouse, dockside seafood chowder at the Rope Loft, lattes at the Kiwi Café, fine dining at the Sunroom, sailing at the Chester Yacht Club, tall tales at the Fo’c’sle Tavern and sports at the Chester Tennis & Golf Clubs,” he adds.
The library parlour at Kaulback Island. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
The property would make a fantastic resort, corporate retreat location, or family compound. An expansive flat lawn provides a helicopter landing area for the ultimate executive convenience. Once in a lifetime, a property such as this one comes along, so individual, it has its own postal code.”
History
Kaulback Island was previously owned by Ruby and Florence Heisler, who ran a farm from the 1950s through to the 1970s.
The Heisler family has a long boat-building history, originating on Tancook Island, where the first Bluenose class boats were built. A +/- 30 vessel Bluenose fleet races three times a week during the summer, out of the Chester Yacht Club.
Kaulback Island’s parlour. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
The outdoor patio at Kaulback Island. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
The bedroom. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
Another bedroom at Kaulback Island. (Piers Baker image via Trevor and Paige at Eyecapture).
