On the green, rolling hills of Pinbarren an English family has found their slice of paradise and carved out a new life they are keen to share with guests.
Tired of British winters and searching for a change, British publicans Sarah Keating and Simon Marsh sold their London pub and set sail for Australia in 2017 with their kids Edward and Hattie.
After a year renting in Caloundra they found their destination at a farm stay where they are gathering a growing collection of homeless animals that have become family.
“We thought we’d like to change careers. We had kids and wanted to be home more,” Sarah said.
Operating for just over a year Pinbarren Green Lodges, near Cooran, has been a blooming success in more ways than just financial.
Simon said living in the outdoors and caring for a variety of animals had enabled the family to spend more time together and had transformed the children.
“They’ve gone from being Pommie mice to coming out of themselves and speaking up,” he said.
They are thriving in their surroundings, love their new school and the proud parents were thrilled when last year Edward became school captain at Cooran State School.
With a background in hospitality the UK couple had no knowledge of animal husbandry, but with a love of animals and the discovery of a gap of farm stays in the region they took a chance.
“There’s a lot of retreats that are adults-only. We always encourage people to bring their kids here. Kids absolutely love it,“ Sarah said.
“We feel Australia is what you want to make of it. We wouldn’t have been able to get something like this in the UK. And the council has been so supportive.”
The former 42-acre cattle farm was a deceased estate that had long sat idle when it came on the market.
Since then the couple have worked hard to establish the business, adopt environmental practices and become part of the community. They sunk a bore, created 11 dams and fenced the property. They contracted a Kin Kin builder to erect several holiday units and installed solar power and water tanks. The farm has joined the Land for Wildlife program and planted 3000 trees.
Having gained council approvals the business opening was delayed when Covid hit but began in November 2020.
It has become a retreat for families from the city and a refuge for animals needing rescue or rehoming.
The enthusiasm for their animal farm is contagious as they roam the grounds introducing their various livestock and pointing out their new additions.
The first arrival was some chickens, then a horse. Then followed donkeys, goats, alpacas, sheep, goats and geese. They were spotted on social media sites and all have come with a story and their own personality.
Beloved mother and daughter donkeys belonged to a woman near Bundaberg who suffered from osteoarthritis and could no longer look after them, but is still able to see them through regular visits. Their third donkey had been living on a farm, not congenially, with a herd of cattle so the owners sought a happier home for it.
A group of five alpacas arrived from a Kin Kin farm whose owner passed away in a tragic accident.
A small stallion from Lockyer Valley was destined for the knackery and was rescued but is still adjusting to his recent gelding status.
Sarah said they had no idea how to look after their farm animals when they began but the community have come to their aid.
Whenever a query or issue arises there is someone in the rural community with a solution.
They have discovered that goats and alpacas are amicable neighbours but need space and entertainment. The goats love adventure tinged with a little danger. Sarah and Simon have constructed a playground for them with a swing and climbing structures.
“They’re very inquisitive and agile,” Sarah said. The couple quickly realised their goats do not like water so now each has its own little house where they hide away in when it rains.
They also discovered goats are much fussier eaters than they expected. “They won’t eat anything like people think they do,” Sarah said.
Unlike the goats the alpacas love water and enjoy lying about in the dam built specially for them.
Sarah said she had been surprised by some of the alpacas dietary preferences. One alpaca, Buttercup, loves the weed, Bidens pilosa, known as Cobblers pegs. Diving headfirst into them she comes out covered in its prickles. Camphor laurel saplings are another favourite. Sarah discovered this to her delight one day when she embarked on a mission to rid a field of the invasive weed to find the alpacas had beat her to it and devoured the lot.
When Sarah and Simon first opened the lodges they invited family and friends to gauge their feedback before opening it to public bookings.
Already 80 per cent of bookings are direct to the lodge, they are booked for next Christmas and they have had a number of return guests.
Sarah and Simon aim to share with the guests the country life they are thriving on.
So far most of their visitors come from Brisbane but many originated beyond our shores from Iran, Sri Lanka, Europe or the UK.
“The whole thing is about giving kids from cities some idea of what real animals look like, feel like. Some kids don’t get it that eggs come from chickens. It brings people in touch with nature and it gives the animals that extended life.”
The couple said the effect on families is obvious by their behaviour.
“People come on a Friday afternoon. The kids come here and are able to run around free. By Sunday they’re chilled and the children are transformed,“ Simon said.
Pinbarren Green Lodges is at 340 Pomona Kin Kin Road, Pinbarren. Phone 0426 065 446 or visit pinbarrengreenlodgesnoosa.com.au
