Community & Business
10 June, 2022
Silo glamping
An Irongate couple is re-purposing old silos to great effect and attracting the attention of campers and tourism networks.
One of Australia’s quirkiest overnight accommodation offerings has emerged on a hilltop at Irongate.
Ruth Ashburner-Gorse and husband Ken tirelessly worked to clear bushland and modify an old Lysaght silo as an Air BNB option for overnight visitors.
It includes a wood burner, camp oven and solar-powered festoon lighting to lend ambience.
Another silo has been converted into a bar for sunset tipples with breathtaking views across the plains.
A third is being transformed into a two-storey glamping option with glass over the mezzanine sleeping area for stargazing.
Ken, a pilot, has added an air strip for his beloved bush plane so guests who own planes can land for the night.
The couple’s 140-acre Fig Tree Country Retreat was voted second for Australia in the glamping category of online camping platform HipCamp’s 2022 awards.
Ruth said their location was proving popular with birdwatchers and nature-lovers, and travellers looking for a peaceful location within an easy drive of Toowoomba city.
Discover more at figtreecountryretreat.com.au
