‘There is no success without hardship.’ – Sophocles
If trees could talk, they would tell us that for twenty years, Braeside Estate has been a place of dreams. It’s a place where lovers whisper their commitment to each other, a ‘place where love and magic walk hand in hand and breathtaking moments are made’.
At the August 2022 VIP opening and Open Day of the wedding and event venue, Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate, its new owners, Samantha and Darren Taylor, proudly showed off Braeside’s beautiful two acres of grounds. Located less than fifteen minutes from Broadbeach, the estate includes seven event locations, several historic buildings including an intimate wooden chapel, and a sparkling new 120-seat all-weather pavilion.
Many may have thought that the past two years would have been a dream run for the glamorous couple. But they were soon to find out that the road leading to the reveal had been laid amidst hardships that would have taken their toll on less determined travellers.
Although Sam had first met Braeside’s previous owner fifteen years ago, she never dreamed that the venue would be hers.
Years later, while booking a venue for their own wedding, Sam and Darren’s Braeside journey began.
Sam’s comment on their tour of Braeside, “I’d love to own a venue like this,” led to negotiations to buy the property, the couple taking over ownership in May 2020.
But their own wedding did not go as smoothly as the venue purchase, with lockdowns, border closures and floods wreaking havoc with their plans on three occasions.
“In total, we paid for the wedding three times,” Sam tells me, adding that on their third and final proposed wedding day, flooding meant changing the venue (and her dress) two hours before the ceremony.
Even listening to the tale months later, the thought of managing such a turn of events sends my head into a spin.
But it was Sam’s cool head, her determination and drive, backed up by Darren’s encouragement and support that saw their wedding successfully take place and their business, Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate, honoured with awards.
While nature conspired that their Braeside wedding was not to be, Samantha and Darren’s previous experience in business, education and politics formed the ideal skill set to run this venture.
Sam had always held a passion for design and enterprise thinking. Following a career in event management running events such as Adelaide Fashion Week, Sam was Head of Design Arts and Applied Technology in a Gold Coast high school, designing curriculum at a state level and running her own e-commerce business. Darren also runs a business as well as being the Councillor for Division 10, Gold Coast City Council.
Holding respect for time and place, the couple had a vision for Braeside.
“I could see what I wanted to do with this place, the different ways I would do things, while keeping a sense of place,” Sam tells me.
Braeside Estate has a history of European settlement dating back 150 years to 1873, when the area was acquired by former Brisbane Mayor Thomas Stephens. Subdivided for farming in 1890, the property still holds remnants of that time in the huge 150-year-old camphor laurel tree, together with the four-bedroom homestead built by the estate’s original owner, John Davidson Snr. Used as a wedding venue for the past two decades, the property had two more owners who each made their improvements to the site before Sam and Darren bought it.
The estate, located alongside the tranquil Gin House Creek, reflects its heritage of old and new memories. It had been given the Scottish name ‘Braeside’ for its hilltop position. On its two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens the classic Queenslander-style chapel features traditional church pews for 90 guests, the property also housing the historic Shed Bar.
As well as beautifying the grounds, the couple have added a sparkling new 120-seat ‘Pavilion’, completed during a few short months mid pandemic.
It’s their first step towards weather-proofing the property, their future plans involving an undercover pre-reception space at the Lawn Bar and further flood mitigation in the lower areas.
Solidly booked with five or six wedding per week, the venue is also used during summer months for corporate events.
When asked the secrets of their success, Sam says, “Establishing a great team by how we work together and treat people. Our team are like family to us,” she adds.
“As a manager, I am one of the team. Dedication and chipping in to get a job done together is important, even if it means that I do the leaf blowing. Clear, open and transparent communication with clients and vendors is also important to establish clear parameters. It means that everyone knows what to expect, minimising stress on the day,” she adds.
The recent Open Day not only showed off the venue and its event locations, it also showcased the vendors who liaise with clients to create the event.
Ever mindful of equity, Sam outlines the different ways an event can be held to cater for affordability and style, from ceremony and photos only, or a lunchtime ceremony and canapés event midweek, to a full 8-hour wedding package including ceremony, photographs and reception with all the frills.
The couple are also intent on giving back in their own quiet way, collaborating with charities re event hire and support.
With a vision that keeps on growing, Sam says she would love to expand to have different venues suitable for different purposes.
However, it’s hard to imagine that any could be more beautiful than Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate.
Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate, 251 Gooding Drive, Merrimac, QLD 4226 Ph: 07 561 93095
NOTE: Good Food Gold Coast visited as a guest of Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate.