rose gums wilderness retreat

media releases

Vision splendid for Tableland

The Cairns Post, Thursday, March 3rd, 2005

A HIDEAWAY in the highlands rather than mass tourism is the industry’s future on the Atherton Tablelands, an industry leader says.
Gerry Collins, director of Tourism Tropical North Queensland and proprietor of the Undara lava tubes, made the comments at the opening of Rose Gums’ new conference centre near Lake Eacham on Saturday.

“The Tableland will become the jewel in the crown of tourism in the tropical north,” Mr Collins said. He said the region would be protected from over-development by its limited access.

“It’s not going to grow into a mass tourism destination. Hideaways in highlands like Rose Gums will be the places people go to,” Mr Collins said.

He said business tourism was worth $250 million to Far North Queensland, with each person attending a business conference spending about $5000 during their visit.

He praised the vision of owners Jon and Peta in developing their conference centre which can accommodate up to 30 delegates.
Mr and Mrs Nott bought a run-down 100ha dairy farm adjoining national park 10 years ago and have since planted 14,000 trees and established five self-contained treehouses accommodating a total of 18 people.
Their efforts to restore the environment were praised by Minister for the Environment Desley Boyle and leading Tableland scientist and ecologist Tony Irvine.

Performing the official opening Ms Boyle said Rose Gums proved that a degraded environment could be restored with proper care.

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Meet in the Rainforest

Tablelander, Tuesday, March 1st , 2005

CONFERENCES can now be held in the peaceful and natural surrounds of the Tablelands with the opening of a conference centre at Rose gums Wilderness Retreat.

The fully-equipment conference centre is 10 minutes from Lake Eacham and is part of the tree-house facility designed by award winning builder Jon Nott and his wife Peta, The pair received the 2004 Tropical North Queensland tourism award for unique accommodation.

State Minister for Environment Desley Boyle opened the centre on Saturday. The training room can cater for 30 people with a separate dining room, which offers meals to suit all budgets.

Rose Gums has operated successfully for six years, attracting a large number of visitors locally, domestically and internationally, due to the wilderness rainforest setting.

“We felt there was an untapped niche market in business tourism,” Mrs Nott said.

“We have had so many guests comment for years what a wonderful place it would be for a conference, meeting or team building, so we have been planning this for more than two years now.

“We are finally open for business.”

Rose Gums also offers conference delegates its bushwalk, rainforest streams and the spectacular views of magnificent neighbours Chooreechillum (Mt Bellenden Ker) in the Wooroonooran National Park.

“We are extremely fortunate to have not only 230 acres of private forest, but also to be surrounded by millions of acres of World Heritage forests,” Mr Nott said.

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Tablelander, Tuesday, August 30th, 2005

An international gathering of nature conservationists met on the Tablelands last week.

The team from Nature conservancy, made up of staff from China, Australia, Palau, Micronesia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, The Soloman Islands, Central America, Costa Rica, Hawaii, New Mexico and New Hampshire, spent a week at Rose Gums Retreat networking and exchanging ideas on conservation.

Director of conservation, partnership and leaderships for the Asia Pacific region Kath Shurcliff said the team met annually to share ideas on how best to protect the world’s biodiversity.

“Basically we al work for the Nature Conservancy and this team gets to talk about what’s working for them in their countries and share ideas,” Ms Shurcliff said.

“We se the strengths of cultural diversity and share our experiences and methodology, as well as interests and some of the solutions that other’s have found help.”

The 50-year-old organization bases its concepts on science and aims at finding how the land and resources of the world can be used without ruining it for future generations.

“No organization can do it on its own, we need the help from governments other conservation organization and also traditional leaders,” Ms Shurcliff said.

Last year’s retreat was held in Lijiang, China, and the group has stretched from 12 to 20 members. Olivia Millard, director of conservation fellows program for Nature Conservancy said the members had constant exchange though the telephone and intranet.

“Spreading ideas can help us achieve what we need to do in our countries,” Ms Millard said.

“The retreats are to be able to report back what we need to have achieved.

“And this setting at Rose Gums has been perfect for us, we have really enjoyed being right in amongst the rainforest and nature,” Ms Millard said.
The meeting was opened with a dance by Aboriginal Elders.