The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinarsUrbanity
Industry Excellence
Urban Leader
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Urban Leader Awards Logos RGB White
NOMINATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 12 RECOGNISING THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THE PROJECTS
NOMINATIONS CLOSING SEPTEMBER 12 URBAN LEADER AWARDS
LEARN MOREDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
11
print
Print
HotelTaryn ParisWed 11 May 22

Farm Tourism Approved for Sunshine Coast

An ambitious plan to transform former farmland into an agri-tourism destination on the Sunshine Coast has won approval. 

The Barns Lane Farm will put the 6.8ha former farm at Coolum on the map with plans for a paddock-to-plate experience, a 2000sq m produce hall, brewery, animal farms, tours, an adventure play area and a performance space. 

It’s the brain-child of co-founders Jason Grant, Helent Grant and Jonathan Leishman, with construction on the first stage due to commence soon.

The opening is slated for late next year, with future stages to include a boutique hotel and a 150-seat function venue, to cater to the rural wedding market. 

Developer Jonathan Leishman said it had been a passion project for the trio. He said Barns Lane would be an incubator for innovation and connect with charities on the coast.

“We’re partnering with Josephmark, they’re going to be running an agtech start up incubator,” Leishman said. 

“They’re going to use Barns Lane kind of like a Google campus, where they can get that interaction with the industry and go to market.

“We’ve also got Compass Farms on board—they have six farms on the Sunshine Coast that provide learning opportunities for people with disabilities. It teaches them life skills through doing something meaningful … we’re excited to have them onsite, they will be maintaining one of the plots, growing botanicals for the distillery.”

Barns Lane Farm has been approved for Coolum, with a second stage to include a boutique hotel and event space.
▲ Barns Lane Farm has been approved for Coolum, with a second stage to include a boutique hotel and event space.

Leishman said they would also partner with Mini Farm Project, which grows produce and donates it to charities to feed people experiencing food insecurity.

The trio’s passion for community, wedded with its experience in development and business nous, would be put to good use as the long-term operators of the site, which was formerly slated for a Bunnings. 

“We’re very passionate about community, food and healthy living, and we’re looking forward to getting cracking on the site,” Leishman said. 

“Once we’re up and running there’s going to be between 50 and 60 businesses on site including a coffee roaster and a bakery, and we’re in advanced talks with a restaurant operator and events operator.”

The project is expected to create 170 full-time equivalent jobs across multiple industries and connect the community to its local food producers. 

Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Matt Stoeckel said there had been “huge demand for agri-tourism experiences” and the project would lead the food producer market on the Sunshine Coast. 

RetailAustraliaPlanningPlanningSector
AUTHOR
Taryn Paris
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
4 Min
Woolloongabba Precinct Vulture St
Exclusive

Brisbane Developer in Cross River Rail Compensation Tussle

Clare Burnett
4 Min
The Mondrian Gold Coast hotel's food and beverage is driving profits
Exclusive

Touch, Taste, Theatre: What’s Driving Mondrian’s Success

Renee McKeown
6 Min
Fortis’ display suites are designed as brand environments first, with tactile details and curated design to build buyer confidence before project specifics.
Exclusive

Relevant or Redundant: Will Tech Kill Display Suites?

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
Exclusive

Missing Heart: Why The Gold Coast Needs a CBD

Phil Bartsch
7 Min
View All >
South Melbourne social housing precinct
Affordable & Social Housing

South Melbourne Housing Precinct Revamp Takes Next Step

Leon Della Bosca
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
The Adelaide purpose built student accommodation market is about to increase by 1058 beds with the State Commission Assessment Panel supporting two towers in the making.
Student Housing

Highrise Approvals Add 1000-Plus PBSA Beds in Adelaide

Renee McKeown
The two towers, of 35 and 34 storeys, help cement the SA capital’s growing status as the best place in Australia for the…
LATEST
South Melbourne social housing precinct
Affordable & Social Housing

South Melbourne Housing Precinct Revamp Takes Next Step

Leon Della Bosca
2 Min
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
4 Min
The Adelaide purpose built student accommodation market is about to increase by 1058 beds with the State Commission Assessment Panel supporting two towers in the making.
Student Housing

Highrise Approvals Add 1000-Plus PBSA Beds in Adelaide

Renee McKeown
3 Min
JQZ Parramatta EDM
Residential

JQZ Plots 10-Storey Addition to Parramatta ‘Auto Alley’ Plans

Clare Burnett
3 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/farm-tourism-approved-for-sunshine-coast