Cardboard 'castle' rental receives applications
A rental listing for a cardboard castle on the internet has attracted over 700 views and a series of serious inquiry, despite its owner’s humorous intentions.
Darragh Cullen submitted his “castle” for rent on online classifieds site Gumtree last Friday, with the asking price of $50 a week.
The post included the description: “Great protection from invading hordes, siege pack and supplies optional, keep the dark knight at bay, adjoining pool/moat. Very secure parking with new modern draw bridge, five mins from the city.”
Mr Curren, who lives in Darwin, said he posted the ad as a joke.
“It was for a laugh,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have to take things so seriously.”
However, Mr Curren might not be too far off the mark, as the most recent SQM Research show that the vacancy rate of Darwin is just 1.2 per cent.
According to general manager of Elders Real Estate Darwin Chris Deutrom, Darwin traditionally had high rentals and a shortage of accommodation.
“Our market has always been like this,” he said.
“It’s something that people who have rented in Darwin have always had to deal with."
The 27 year-old, who had been recovering at home from a diving accident several weeks ago, built the castle in 15 minutes using the leftover cardboard from his new double-door fridge.
The advertisement has so far accumulated 765 visits.
Mr Curren said he received about four to five serious enquiries, along with other responses from people who realised the ad was a farce.
“I didn’t expect any viewers to be honest, maybe just a couple of people have a laugh and that’s about it,” he said.