9 classic Queenslander house stays within the Scenic Rim

When you think of a quintessential Queensland holiday, your mind immediately takes you to warm tropical weather, sunshine-filled days and enjoying quality time with friends and family surrounded by nature.

But there’s more to the Queensland experience than just the great outdoors; it’s also ingrained in the very architecture that graces this sun-kissed State. Enter the iconic ‘Queenslander’ – a style of housing that’s as much a part of the State’s identity as pristine beaches and lush landscapes.

Originally designed for a sub-tropical climate, Queenslander houses are characterised by their raised position, corrugated iron roofs and timber workmanship with exterior weatherboards, wide decks and wrap-around verandas and ornate architraves. Queenslander’s represent the classic Queensland lifestyle and staying in one offers a delightful blend of history, elegance, and comfort. They come in all shapes and sizes from charming worker’s cottages, to sprawling homesteads and resort-style abodes that embrace indoor-outdoor living.

Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply seeking to immerse yourself in the Queensland way of life, it’s time to pack your bags and explore the Scenic Rim’s abundance of Queenslander homes, perfect for your next getaway.

📷 Olive View Estate’s classic Queenslander house. Credit: Shan Bawden, River & Her

Olive View Estate
If you like to mix your historic architecture with a side of antipasto, then the Queenslander at Olive View Estate has all your interests covered. As you kick back for a sundowner with a wine and cheese platter (featuring olives harvested on the property and homemade dukkah from the estate), you’ll take in the views that stretch over 700 olive trees to distant peaks of the Scenic Rim. This restored Queenslander caters for up to six guests and there’s plenty of room for activities in the spacious bedrooms and living areas, in keeping with classic Queenslander design. There’s a relaxed aesthetic to the home with French-inspired furniture, a range of well-loved books to browse and vintage cookware in the kitchen. You’ll be able to relax in comfort all year round and make Olive View Estate your home away from home. As the temperatures drop, the indoor fireplace and outdoor fire pit will keep you toasty, while the private pool is perfect for a dip to cool off in summer. Don’t forget to wander the grounds, see olives budding on the trees and check out the array of vintage vans and cars for a dose of nostalgia to really take a trip down memory lane.

Herrmann House
A remarkable aspect of Queenslander homes is their ability to be cut from their supports and relocated on the back of a truck to a new setting, while still retaining their charm and character. This is exactly what’s happened to the historic and stunning Herrmann House in Kalbar. Herrmann House is made up of two of the oldest homes in the region that have been joined together to create one large estate in central Kalbar by engaging expert architects and craftsmen to lovingly bring back the heritage features and add stylish modern comforts. These days, the grand old lady is a glamourous stay for up to eight guests. Upon arrival, a wide frontage, bordered by white picket fencing and meticulous landscaping, sets the scene for luxurious black and white interiors. Under the tri-gabled roof are lounge areas with gas fireplaces and four beautiful bedrooms with gloss black doors and ensuite bathrooms with striking vintage-style baths calling your name for a relaxing soak with glass of wine.

Lumiere Farmhouse
Lumiere Farmhouse is a respectfully restored early 1900’s Queenslander that immediately makes guests feel at home in Woolooman, less than an hour’s drive from Brisbane. As you turn off the main road and hit the dirt driveway, you’ll fall under the country life charm of this rolling two-acre property with its home perched atop a hill and surrounded by green pastures and bushland. The butterfly staircase entryway leads visitors up to a wrap-around veranda and a light-filled four-bedroom abode with character-filled nooks and crannies styled by interior designer and dedicated restoration enthusiasts, Suz and Tony. One of the unmistakably Queenslander experiences this home offers is the free flowing spaces and airiness throughout, thanks to its design features. French doors connect bedrooms and living spaces easily to verandas, casement windows capture cooling hilltop breezes and ornate fretwork above the doorways allows for easy ventilation throughout the home. If breathing in some country air is high on your holiday agenda, we can’t think of a more relaxed setting to take it all in than Lumiere Farmhouse.

Mt Barney Lodge
In today’s fast-paced world, where technology and modern amenities dominate our lives, it’s easy to forget the simple joys of connecting to the natural world. A trip to Mt Barney Lodge, located at the base of Queensland’s fourth highest mountain, is a place where time stands still and its two grand colonial homesteads offer an opportunity to reconnect with the simpler things in life. Nestled in the heart of the countryside, internet and phone reception are limited, and there are no TVs, which makes way for spending time with friends around crackling fires, bush walking and exploring water holes on the property. For architecture aficionados, the homes are a great example of original Queenslanders with features such as bay windows, ornate awnings, vertical join panelling walls and double-hung windows. Internally, the furnishings are also steeped in history with colonial furniture, wrought iron beds, vintage stoves, oil paintings and even an antique Singer sewing machine. Moringararah sleeps up to 15 guests and Boolamoola sleeps up to six guests. The property also offers a range of family cabins, hybrid caravans and camping sites along with excellent adventure and hiking experiences led by qualified outdoor guides.

Vanbery Cottage
Vanbery Cottage, at Mt Alford on a 43 acre cattle property, is an understated romantic escape, perfect for couples looking to relax and rewind. Like something out of a classic Australiana storybook, here you’ll drive up the winding road past gumtrees to the small cream and white-trimmed cottage perched on top of a hill to catch the summer breezes. After wandering through the flowering cottage garden and through the batwing lattice doors, this  charming one-bedroom Queenslander with wrap-around verandas immediately relaxes all the senses. The views are particularly wonderful, especially as the fog rolls in on crisp winter mornings. But there’s no need to dash out of bed, instead the cosy interiors and wood-burning fireplace are just the excuse for a book, puzzle or movie after breakfasting on some of Vanbery’s homemade Rosella Jam. In summer, the resort style pool and gazebo with views to the horizon is the ideal spot to cool off.

Eighteen Mile Cottage
Built in the 1920s, Eighteen Mile Cottage in Darlington, is a two-bedroom timber Queenslander  farmhouse cottage with a large deck, white exterior, and warmly-lit interior – perfect for up to four guests to kick back and relax. You know the holiday is off to a great start when you arrive to your complimentary bottle of wine and box of chocolates, however the authentic Queenslander farmhouse experience unfolds through nature walks, star gazing from the back deck and rock hopping at Albert Creek, just steps from the back door. The home itself has been renovated to enhance the original Queenslander, and the owners of the property have also added a few well-considered features and subtle decorative touches such as sliding timber Georgian windows in the kitchen and hanging lead light lampshades, which beautifully frame the view of the grazing pastures outside. The property, hidden well away from the roads and tucked in to surrounding bushland, is a tranquil setting for experiencing the country lifestyle.

Cedar Glen Farmstay
If you want your pick of different eras of Queenslanders, Cedar Glen Farmstay has four charming ones to choose from, all surrounded by over a thousand acres of green pastures and views of the rugged mountains of The Lost World. Firstly, the grand Homestead, which was built in 1901 from timber grown on the property, was home to the Stephens family right up until 2000. As was common at the turn of the 20^th century, this old Queenslander has two distinct sections: front for living, and back for kitchen, dining and lounge. The sprawling veranda offers the perfect alfresco dining area and catch ups with the whole family.
Then there’s the very sweet Stinson Cottage, a worker’s cottage originally built in the 1900s in Beaudesert and relocated in 1995 when the owners heard it was set to be bulldozed for development. The weatherboard exterior including cross-braced panelling on the front veranda and a corrugated hip roof are charming examples of this once humble, now revered design.
Wallaby Cottage is another home that made its journey from Marburg to Cedar Glen Farmstay. The two-bedroom 1900s home takes its name from the family of wallabies that can be regularly seen in the early mornings. Inside the interiors remain mostly intact, and the green and purple rolled glass windows in the kitchen encase the interiors in a colourful kaleidoscope of colour when hit by the afternoon sun.
Finally, there is Dairy Cottage, which was built in 1949 to house the managers of the nearby Cedar Glen Dairy. After the dairy closed in 1979, it became a private home and has now been converted to farmstay accommodation that sleeps up to 10 guests.
Historic homesteads aren’t the only things in abundance at Cedar Glen Farm. If you can name the farm animal, they’ll likely have it; horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, ducks, peacocks, alpacas, donkeys, camels, and chickens. During your stay, tick animal handling off the farm stay checklist by taking the alpacas out for a walk.

The Homestead at Tommerup’s Dairy Farm
Nestled in an enchanting Lost World valley, The Homestead at  Tommerup’s Dairy Farm is an immersive Queenslander farm stay experience set upon a 200-acre farm. This sixth-generation micro-dairy farm at Kerry is the passion and everyday reality of farmers Dave and Kay Tommerup and their adult children, and they warmly welcome guests to their farm to share their passion for connecting people with the land and animals. The Homestead, built in 1888, has been the family home for generations of Dave’s family and you can feel the history of the house in its sturdy old bones. It was the first sawn timber home in the Kerry district and while remaining true to its roots, the home has been redecorated in country style with modern amenities such as air-conditioning added to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests. Jump in boots ‘n all to farm life during your stay, whether that be milking the herd of Jersey girls each morning, smashing pumpkins for the rowdy pigs or scattering hay in the paddocks from Dave’s grandfather’s old Bedford truck. With only one guest house on the property, you’ll feel like part of the extended family as you join in daily activities, yet delight in the space and privacy to enjoy the company of your family and friends during your farm holiday. Please note:Tommerup’s Farm Stay bookings are closed for the rest of 2024, due to renovations. Future availability and tickets to their on-farm events will be advertised through their Friends of the Farm newsletter. 

Looking for more Queenslander-style stays?
Find more Queenslander-style stays within the Scenic Rim at Greenlee Cottages, Milford Country Cottages, The Farm House at Scenic Rim Farm Shop, and Clandulla Cottages.