MEET Queensland’s newest property ‘moguls’ — the Harley Davidson-riding grandparents who bought a deserted town.

On the cusp of retirement, an excited Karyn Peeters, 58, and husband Peter, 60, paid $550,000 cash to beat hundreds of others to land the keys to Allies Creek, northwest of Kingaroy.

In an exclusive interview with The Courier-Mail, the Peeters said they expected to spend around $2 million over two years to create a retro tourism mecca that their friends, family and six grandchildren could be proud of — but which could also be shared to “save the bush”.

Complete with its own church, lake, sawmill, two whole streets of houses and four large sheds, the resurrected town was expected to offer the charms of “yesteryear all around the property”.

“I’d say to get the complete park up and running — two years,” said Mr Peeters, a builder who also has a stake in a roofing and steel business.

“We’re going to have a bar and recreation area which will couple up with the church so we can have weddings, and also for the weekend people who want to come and visit.”

They hope the first wedding will be that of their daughter — who became engaged yesterday (Friday).

His wife, Karyn, who grew up in the Queensland Outback at Julia Creek, said it was “the peacefulness” of Allies Creek that struck her first.

“I just love the calmness of the place and it just felt like we were going back in our youth and coming home.”

Apart from adding new facilities for laundromats, caravans, and a commercial kitchen, the talented couple plan to hold workshops for mosaic-making, leadlight windows, small carpentry and timberwork.

Mrs Peeters will resurrect the leadlight windows in the church herself, and also oversee the authenticity of the retro-renovation — turning back the clock but adding 21st century conveniences.

“We hope down the track to attract the grey nomads and the motorcyclists and we’re going to try over time to create a little bit of something nostalgic,” Mr Peeters said.

“It’s only four and a half hours from Brisbane so it’s an easy day ride if you want to do nine hours, or we would prefer you stay overnight at least.”

The couple hope to attract craftspeople to be a part of recreating the vintage town.