A recent visit to the impressive, luxury retreat Faraway Domes, left us in awe of a truly unique country experience. For Binna Munsie and her family, triumph came from adversity when they diversified operations to produce a boutique eco tourism experience on their family farm in Northern NSW.
Like all good idea's, they are often born out of necessity. Faraway Domes is a classic example of that. The award winning eco lodge is now in it's sixth year of operation. Nestled 400 kilometres south west of Brisbane’s CBD on an easterly facing ridgeline lies two high-tech, energy-efficient, modular domes for the 21st century. Rooted in a sustainable ethos, the geodesic domes are an architectural marvel, engineered to withstand the tough elements of the Australian outback while offering you first-class comfort and luxury.
Binna, tell us about yourself?
My motto is that everything revolves around ‘The Experience’ and that it should be sustainable and incomparable as possible and in so doing set us apart.
My vision was due to the changing climate and years of increasingly dry times I saw the necessity to diversify on our properties in such a way as to not be solely reliant on the weather.
Travelling overseas I noted how much tourism had expanded worldwide and the greater need for city slickers to experience the unique sensation of luxury camping under the outback stars. It’s incredible to think many who live in city apartments never see the stars.
We have lured guests from all over Australia and around the globe to experience a uniqueness second to none staying in our geodesic domes that at the time of its inception were only the second set of geodesic domes for luxury holiday accommodation in Australia, however today the domes are popping up everywhere.
The 5 star feedback from guests staying in the domes is the relaxed feeling of being a part of nature and the peace and quiet that overwhelms them when they walk through the front door.
What does a normal day look like for you?
For the past year a few words that come to mind that resonates as a normal day are; resourcefulness, hectic, triple stressful, a learning experience like no other as I have navigated my way through a mine field of council regulations and building terminologies, hiring tradesman, purchasing all the building materials and project managing the construction of ‘The Whitehouse’ all the while coordinating with the builders from town (Goondiwindi) who allowed me to have the buying power and a certain amount of control over the build, which in turn allowed me to complete the build within budget.
Regarding the management of the domes during this last year thankfully I had the most wonderful housekeeper in Lorraine who cleaned and managed the day to day requirements of the domes together with my daughter Kate who manages the bookings, emails and marketing of the domes and my husband Jamie who takes care of all the R&M work that needs to be completed.
How would you describe your style?
I dress for comfort when at home and on a daily basis at work on farm or on the house site just wearing work shirts and shorts in summer and skivvies with a puffer vest and jeans in winter.
For socializing in summer I like well-cut tailored style fitted knee length skirts and shorts with a long sleeve T shirt or a light fabric long sleeve collared shirt with a stylish cropped cotton jacket or blazer for more formal occasions, whereas in winter I wear jeans and cords with a collared shirt or skivvy, woollen scarf and mostly a puffer vest or polo neck sweaters having autumnal colour tones and never go anywhere without wearing a smart buckled belt and leather or swede boots in winter.
What do you love about being a part of the Goondiwindi Community?
Goondiwindi is a town I’m very proud to call my home town with many a fond memory of the town when I was growing up. It was a wonderful community back then and I feel the community stills pulls together and works hard for major events on the calendar. I know that Faraway Domes has been a sponsor for many of these events.
Following are some memories of growing up in the district and calling Goondiwindi my home town.
Memories of The McIntyre Club where our parents socialized while we kids were meant to be sleeping in the back of station wagons but instead having our own street party.
The iconic Pullos’s café which was one of a kind.
The legendary barber Bostow (spelling) where my sister Sally Holcombe and I would have to cross the street instead of walking past the barber shop for fear of being wolf whistled and embarrassed when we were in our teens.
Scofield's menswear the one constant and remaining shop from the early days and from memory still in the same location where both Arthur and Lenny knew everyone’s sizes and styles and always had the item you wanted out the back and still does.
The Vic hotel where we would all gather in the saloon bar after cheering on the mighty Goondiwindi Emus to victory.
I have grown up with the Coulton family who have always been very community minded and always on the front foot pushing the boundaries to discover and experience something new and different to bring to the district that also has the ‘ point of difference’ that I’m talking about.
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Photographed by Paulina Eaborn @mrs_paulie
