Romance is proving a booming business in the Gold Coast hinterland where an award-winning wedding venue with more than 200 bookings in the pipeline has been listed for sale.

Specialising in weddings, corporate events and special occasions, Austinvilla Estate is situated on a 46.79Ha/115-acre allotment in the leafy suburb of Mudgeeraba.

Only 12km from Robina Town Centre, 22km south-west of Surfers Paradise, and just over one hour from Brisbane, the private and picturesque property is favoured by Queenslanders wanting a one-stop wedding venue close to home.

The estate holds approval for up to 130 guests at functions and weddings for which Austinvilla has ranked among the state’s top-rated venues at the ABIA Wedding Industry Awards for four years running. The Honeymoon Suite experience has twice been named Queensland’s best.

Kollosche Commercial sales agents Adam Grbcic and Tony Grbcic are calling for expressions of interest on behalf of owner-operators Synergy Enterprises Pty Ltd.

“The wedding industry is booming on the Gold Coast,” says Adam. “Since covid, couples have been forward booking and prefer to stay local but there is a serious shortage of venues.”

Austinvilla Estate has been a “labour of love” for company directors Noel Mewett and Brad Welten who, alongside Brad’s wife (and Noel’s daughter) Tracey Welten, have vastly improved the property and built a thriving business with bookings now spilling into 2024.

“When we first looked at the property six years ago it was overgrown and in a state of disrepair,” says Noel. “We knew we would have to spend some money but we loved the site so much and had a vision for what it could become.”

A veteran developer and former real estate agent, Mr Mewett brought the Harcourts brand to Australia with the opening of Harcourts Surfers Paradise in 1997. Daughter Tracey joined her father in a sales role based out of Royal Pines Resort that afforded exposure to the wedding industry.

Brad Welten is a third-generation builder and heads his own building company, Bradwell Constructions. Together the trio had the perfect combination of skills and passion to inject fresh life into the formerly named Coolalinga Lodge.

“We started out not knowing an awful lot about weddings and functions, but being a family business we showed a lot of love and attention,” says Noel. “We’ve had nothing but five-star reviews since we started and things have just grown from there.”

Weddings account for about 90 per cent of bookings at Austinvilla where the on-site facilities include a function room and entertaining deck, wedding ceremony pavilion, hair salon and a fully-licensed commercial bar and kitchen run by renowned head chef Gareth Keenan.

The ability to feed and accommodate up to 98 guests is a major selling point for wedding parties, who can spread out across 10 self-contained two-bedroom villas, a deluxe honeymoon suite, three bunk houses, and an air-conditioned treehouse for two.

Guests enjoy use of a full-size tennis court with basketball hoops, a swimming pool with spa, firepit area and scenic bushwalking trails. The elevation affords bushland and hinterland views, while native wildlife such as wallabies, birds and koalas are a common sight.

Adam said the challenges posed in gaining council approval for properties that can host weddings, functions and retreats meant few make it past the impact assessment.

“There is no such thing as a block of land zoned for a wedding venue – it would be very difficult to find a suitable site and replace what has been created here,” says Adam.

“For someone who wants to walk into that industry – or expand on an existing portfolio – this is ready to go. Austinvilla also presents as yet untapped potential for retreats and conferences.”

The property boasts a large single-level conference building with a boardroom and office, plus a Queenslander-style caretaker’s cottage. Bitumen roads, extensive car parking and a large dam are among the additional improvements.

Approval has also been granted for a further 10 guest cabins, a second treehouse, and a new residence which would add further upside to the existing operation.

Expressions of interest on 31 Austinville Road, Mudgeeraba, close on Tuesday 6 December at 3pm. Contact Adam Grbcic on 0404 087 772 and Tony Grbcic on 0407 968 667.