Our Member Famil took place on Thursday 25th August with 23 attendees and 12 venue visits, making it a wonderful big day out!
The tour took in a range of businesses in Dunsborough & Surrounds with hosts both getting to share updates on their offering to local operators as well as learning more about their neighbours. Some testimonials from the day:
“There were so many businesses I had driven past but never ventured into and they are now on my hit list for guest recommendations and when I have friends and relatives staying”
“I really enjoyed meeting local business owners and experiencing how supportive people in the region are. There were such a beautiful range and experience of venues on offer (none of which I had seen before). I had a couple of holidaymakers in the gallery today who asked me where to go for a nice lunch nearby, I sent them onto Swings and Roundabouts after telling them about the tasting experience yesterday – a sign that the initiative works!”
“The array of businesses and deepening of knowledge we took away from the days outing was well received. We would like to extend our gratitude for this terrific event. It was a pleasure visiting your venues and further meeting and strengthening relations with all those involved”
The next Member Famil will take in Busselton & Surrounds and is scheduled for Wednesday 7th September. You can find out more and register here.
Please read on for some highlights from the day!
MR Refund Dunsborough
The day started with Jackie and Mark showing us through the Change Refund Point and telling us how they help stimulate the local economy by literally turning trash into cash! The centre offers a free commercial service for local businesses and individuals can drop off eligible drink containers in designated bins with proceeds being donated to select not-for-profit organisations.
Sensei Pots
Georgina from Sensei Pots shared the interesting background of her husband and master potter Ian Beniston, who is highly regarded for the exceptional quality of his craftsmanship. The quaint gallery is set on four acres and a wide range of Ian’s work is featured including handcrafted pottery and ceramic art.
Bina Maya Yallingup Escape
Situated on 7.5 acres of beautiful forest, Sara walked the group through The Residence and newly completed Luxury Villa Two. This gorgeous retreat encapsulates barefoot luxury with a Scandinavian influence for the ultimate in self catering holidays.
Southern Stars Holiday Park
Park owner Todd guided the group through the grounds and facilities of this exceptional holiday park which suits any camper and is dog friendly too! Set in quiet country surroundings, the park has a great nature play area, private ablutions, and fenced dog camping areas, which are perfect for families and large groups.
Yallingup Galleries
New owner Emma recently moved to the region with her family after falling in love with the area while doing a road trip around Australia. The purpose-built gallery sits in natural bushland, showcasing Australian artists and displaying a diverse range of Fine Arts. Exciting new projects are underway to enhance the visitor experiences at this site.
Rivendell Winery Estate
Celia took the group through Rivendell’s beautiful gardens and talked about weddings, private functions and events as well as the nine holiday villas available for hire. The Estates cellar door doubles as a function centre and the group enjoyed wine tasting from their boutique range.
Smiths Beach Resort
Gemma and Regina guided the group through to the main pool area and showed a fabulous selection of accommodation options. The resort is an ultimate beachside escape boasting gorgeous views of the ocean and Lamonts is ideally located at the entrance.
Swings & Roundabouts Yallingup
After a busy morning, a rewarding lunch was enjoyed at Swings. Shane arranged a selection of fine wines, antipasto grazing plates, mouthwatering pizzas and salads for the group. The food is simple and rustic but loaded with delicious flavours and great to share!
Skigh Wine
Next stop was Skigh where hosts Tehya and Adrian discussed their winemaking philosophy and offered fabulous wine tastings to the group. The wines are made organically and are vegan friendly and the tasting room is a fantastic relaxed converted barn with a sprawling garden.
John Streater Fine Furniture
Master craftsman John talked to the group about his career and hand-building the gallery in the 1980s. John has a solid reputation as one of the finest furniture makers in Australia and a viewing area into his workshop gives a wonderful insight to watch him at work.
Just In Time Gourmet
Christie offered the group sparkling wine on arrival and the opportunity to sample many tasty treats from their gourmet product range. The gourmet food and gift hamper company is nestled in the stunning grounds of Fermoy Estate which is the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the spoils of a visit.
Devaleski Wine & Contemporary Design
The last stop for the day was visiting Devaleski’s new cellar door, hosted by Debi. The group was guided through tastings of the Devaleski wines which are organic and processed with minimal intervention. The cellar door has a contemporary design space as well as a baby grand piano for visitors to share their talent.
Cellar d’Or Winery Tours
A special thanks to Stuart from Cellar d’Or who drove the second bus for the day and shared his wonderful insights into the region.