The Story Behind Homely Houses ...
or
“How a single working mother of 2 turned a frustrating family road trip into a unique, fun and thriving accommodation business...
and why, if you’re looking for short-term or holiday accommodation in Brisbane, your search just got a whole lot easier.”
Hi, I’m Lindy Bonnett, proud founder of Homely Houses...
If you’re looking for short-term or holiday accommodation in Brisbane - not just any old accommodation, but somewhere special, somewhere that feels like a home away from home... then you’re in the right place.
And if you’ve got a minute or two to read my story below, you’ll instantly see why I am passionate about providing my clients with quality, homely houses... and you’ll see how you can now easily find a special place to stay right in the heart of Brisbane.
Let me explain...
The Road Trip.
In late 2002, I set out from Brisbane on a holiday road trip to Victoria – a mum and her two children aged 5 and 7, trooping off to see the relatives in Melbourne.
On the way to Melbourne we stayed in the usual places – country town motels, big town hotels, friends’ houses. We also stayed at a couple of very unusual places - a pig farm, and we even overnighted in a zoo!
But by the time we got to Grandpa’s house in Melbourne I was exhausted – the kids just couldn’t settle in all the various (and not very homelike) environments, they were tired and out of sorts, and the holiday was really more like hard work and I was feeling a little grumpy. (Has this ever happened to you? Or maybe you were the grumpy kid!)
Anyway, this was NOT my idea of a good holiday.
The next day we decided to go to Ballarat with Grandpa. With gritted teeth and dreading more of the same, I headed off up the highway.
Home ... in the middle of our holiday!
Imagine our amazement when we turned up to the little cottage we’d rented for a few days, and found something that felt familiar, smelled familiar, and sounded nothing like what we’d had for the previous couple of weeks – the sounds and feelings of being home.
Sure it wasn’t quite our own home – but there was a thoughtfully equipped kitchen with way more than just the bare minimum of everything; pillows that didn’t feel like surfboards; normal furniture; teddy bears surrounded the walls of the kids’ bedroom, and books were on the bookshelves – and it was clean, and very very welcoming.
The kids slept for 12 hours that first night. Oh – my – goodness. I was sold.
The light bulb moment
And I wondered – why was it so difficult to create accommodation that people enjoyed rather than endured?
I had a background in hospitality and administration – I bet I could set up a better standard of accommodation than most of those other places we’d stayed! And the beginning of the idea was tucked away in the back of my mind.
A few months later, I was offered a weekend job conducting open house at a property that some friends had just renovated – it belonged to an investor from Melbourne who was now selling it privately. Week after week I would sit in that lovely little cottage in inner Brisbane and each time I was reminded of our very own little cottage in Ballarat – it had the same warm welcoming feel. I could feel the possibilities.
Lindy seizes the day...
As chance would have it, the house didn’t sell at auction, and I nervously approached the owner – perhaps she’d be interested in renting it to me, and we could see if I could turn that little home into a haven for visitors to Brisbane?
Well, she was, and I did - and with some money from an inheritance and a little family help, I proudly set up the first Homely House – I called it “Homely Houses – Havens In The City” (even though I only had the one house – I had BIG plans!).
My guests travel a long way to be here – the least I can do is go the extra mile.
From the very first house it has always been my goal to have places that are set apart from the rest of the sterile, boring and same-same types of accommodation out there.
A few special touches, furniture that is comfortable – whatever it takes to create the environment that people can walk in the door, put their feet up with a drink in their hand, and sigh with satisfaction – congratulating themselves at finding such a gem (just as we did when we found that little Ballarat cottage!)
I created raving fans right from the beginning.
Our first guests arrived in August 2003 – they were a singing group from Sydney performing at the Brisbane Festival – and the second guests were a family from England who had emigrated and needed a base for a month while they resettled. They all loved the house, they loved the special touches, the homely feel of the place.
Since then I have hosted many many different people and their pets too! – people moving to Brisbane to live – families from out of town visiting other family members – business people in town for a short project – pet owners showing their dogs at the Ekka – local residents renovating their own homes – country people in town for a show and some shopping.
And forward to today ...
Homely Houses has come a long way since those humble beginnings.
I’ve expanded the business and have a number of properties – all different, but with the same connecting thread of being warm and inviting places that make the whole business of travelling just that bit easier.
And our logo and tagline 'Accommodation With Heart' really describe what we offer - if you want some proof, see what our guests have said!
With my team and a great supporting cast, over the next couple of years we'll be taking on more properties, and creating a new standard in what people can expect from short term accommodation. We combine the professionalism required by our corporate clients with the friendliness and helpfulness that's become our trademark and is appreciated by everyone.
So – where did the name 'Homely Houses' come from?
Have you read “Lord of the Rings” by JRR Tolkien? I have to admit that I have been a fan for a very long time – and it seemed so natural to adopt the concept of Elrond the Elf’s home at Rivendell, which was known as “The Last Homely House”. It seemed to suit – just when you thought there was nowhere to be comfortable, you find a Homely House.
And so... Welcome to the Homely Houses experience! I hope that you will join the thousands of others whose travelling has been made easier and more enjoyable by staying here! It would be great to host you soon.
With my very best wishes
Lindy Bonnett
Brisbane, Australia