A Home Away From Home
Rebecca, tell us a little about yourself….
I grew up in Texas, 100km South East of Goondiwindi. As a child, my mother had a love of beautiful gardens and entertaining. Over the years, that has inspired my own style and interest in homes, interiors and entertaining. My husband, Ryan and I made the move from Brisbane to Goondiwindi, five years ago with our four children, Matilda, Tommy, Annabel and Elsie. Ryan has a building business based in Brisbane and we’ve always shared an interest in cattle and farming. When an opportunity arose to purchase a property in Goondiwindi known as Victoria Park Farm, we jumped on it. We wanted to give our children a country upbringing in a vibrant community.
Gumnut Cottage is your latest guesthouse in Goondiwindi. Where did the idea start?
Ryan and I had renovated eight houses in Brisbane before embarking on building our family home at Victoria Park. With a steady stream of friends and family visiting, it prompted us to open a guesthouse on the property in April 2018. The popularity of our guesthouse and Air BnB has steadily grown over the years and I was fascinated by meeting so many different people who were travelling to the region. Eight months ago, I noticed a cute weatherboard cottage for sale in town. Its proximity to the Riverwalk was perfect and it had so much potential. The gumnut tree at the front of the house was particularly beautiful and from there, Gumnut Cottage, blossomed.
Simple, timeless, classic. With Gumnut Cottage, I knew I needed to be practical but I also wanted the cottage to feel like a relaxed, country oasis. I wanted to take advantage of the natural light streaming through French doors and glass windows to retain a light and airy feel. Ryan and I settled on a simple, white canvas, and added flair through the use of wallpaper by Milton and King in the bathrooms and yellow check bedlinen which I can rotate over time. I like using a mix of old and new pieces to add warmth in a home. It immediately adds interest and gives a space room to grow as you acquire things.
Gumnut Cottage is one part of a slightly bigger idea. Tell us about Gundy Getaways.
Gundy Getaways is about creating unique experiences for people travelling. We take for granted the beauty of wide-open spaces and the simplicity of a picnic in the paddock. Gundy Getaways is about creating unique experiences for small groups to experience Goondiwindi in a really special way for the weekend. It’s about catering a long lunch in the paddock or participating with a group of girlfriends in a ceramics workshop. We’re happy to work with organisers to tailor a unique experience for their group, to make their visit a memorable one.
Imagery shot by The Farmers Friend @the_farmers_friend
For more information, follow @gumnutcottagegundy
