5 well-known Scenic Rim venues are celebrating milestone years in 2026.
They’re The Royal Resort, Harrisville, marking 151 years, The Dugandan Resort at 140 years, St Bernards Resort at 111 years, the Canungra Resort at 100 years, and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat at 100 years.
The group spans nation pubs, a mountain resort, and one in all Queensland’s best-known rainforest stays. Every has helped form the area’s tourism and neighborhood life over many many years.
These milestones present how long-running venues can preserve their place in native life whereas nonetheless drawing new guests.
Additionally they mirror the Scenic Rim’s wider enchantment. The area affords greater than surroundings. It provides individuals locations with reminiscence, character and tales that also really feel lively as we speak.
That helps preserve locals returning and guests making the journey from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and past.
These venues assist preserve cash transferring via Scenic Rim cities and tourism areas.
Guests stopping for a meal, a drink, an evening away or a day journey typically spend time with close by producers, outlets and native operators too. That helps jobs and helps smaller townships keep seen in a aggressive tourism market.
The milestones additionally give the area a robust tourism angle in 2026, with historical past, hospitality and place all tied collectively.
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The Scenic Rim covers greater than 4,200 sq. kilometres, exhibiting how these 5 venues sit throughout a big and diversified tourism area.
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The area consists of greater than 30,000 hectares of parkland, which helps help its sturdy enchantment for nature-based stays and day journeys.
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Six historic nationwide parks and three dams, Lake Moogerah, Lake Maroon and Wyaralong Dam, add to the Scenic Rim’s wider tourism pull.
The Royal Resort at Harrisville has stood since 1875 and stays the oldest pub within the Scenic Rim. It started as a cease for cotton and cattle staff and nonetheless trades on chilly beer, hearty meals and a welcoming really feel. Caravans and campers are additionally welcome on the grounds.
Its previous is full of tales. Homeowners say Margaret Wholey, who constructed the resort in 1875, was one in all Queensland’s first feminine publicans and can also be stated to be one of many resident ghosts. The resort survived a number of fires all through its historical past. In January 1887, floodwater entered the premises for the one recorded time, whereas later floods handed beneath. The Royal Resort Harrisville, then generally known as The Royal James Resort, was badly broken by fireplace on 2 June 1916. Regardless of experiences written later, nobody died in that fireside. The one recorded demise on the resort was in 1934, when boarder Mr Neaves died from a coronary heart assault. In 2003, the resort additionally featured within the ABC mini-series “Fats Cow Motel”, with locals showing as extras.
The Dugandan Resort, generally known as “The Dugie”, marks 140 years. The timber constructing was first established within the Eighteen Eighties by Carl Stumer as a basic retailer exterior Boonah. It was transformed right into a resort in 1913, with lodging, cellar, kitchen and servants’ quarters. In the present day it nonetheless affords the identical straightforward nation pub really feel, with Scenic Rim and Mt French views, a wraparound verandah, and a beer backyard referred to as “The Chook Yard”.
St. Bernard’s Resort on Tamborine Mountain is marking 111 years as a licensed resort. The property was first inbuilt 1881 by Robert Muir, moved to its present web site in 1898 and granted its resort licence in 1915. Over time, it has served as a visitor home, wartime lodging and a convalescent retreat. In the present day it stays identified for its broad views throughout Tamborine Valley, Guanaba Gorge and out to the Pacific Ocean. Visitors are additionally greeted by the resident St Bernard canine and a peacock.
The Canungra Resort is marking 100 years as a township mainstay. It started as a timber guesthouse and have become a licensed pub in 1928. Hearth and rebuilds didn’t finish its function as a social hub. It nonetheless trades on hearty meals, chilly drinks, black and white paintwork, a wraparound verandah and its ties to Canungra’s timber and timber mill historical past.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat can also be turning 100 in 2026. The O’Reilly household opened the guesthouse in Lamington Nationwide Park in 1926. It’s recognised as Australia’s oldest family-owned ecotourism retreat and is now run by third and fourth-generation relations. Over time, it grew to become a well known vacation spot for nature lovers, uncommon birds, and Australia’s first treetop walkway. Visitors may spot wildlife akin to pademelons at daybreak, together with birds together with the regent bowerbird and Albert’s lyrebird.
Taken collectively, these 5 milestones inform an even bigger Scenic Rim story.
This can be a area the place previous pubs, mountain motels and nature-based stays nonetheless play a central function in tourism. The broader space stretches from Canungra to The Misplaced World, Beaudesert to Boonah, and Tamborine Mountain to Kalbar. It consists of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, wealthy volcanic soil, 1000’s of farmers and meals makers, tenting and glamping spots, breweries, wineries, ecolodges and native meals experiences.
The Scenic Rim isn’t constructed round one attraction. It affords a mixture of historical past, place and persona, and these 5 operators sit proper on the centre of that.
What To Look For Subsequent?
These venues are more likely to stay a robust a part of the Scenic Rim’s tourism story, giving locals and guests extra causes to return for a meal, a keep, a view or a narrative.
Throughout 2026, their milestone celebrations will assist preserve the area’s mixture of heritage, hospitality and nature in focus.
