Sixty6 Acres: Diversity, sustainability, and a long-term Sunshine Coast legacy
Combining quality accommodation, livestock and fresh produce, Sixty6 Acres is ensuring its longevity, offering something for everyone.
Visitors to the Sunshine Coast are spoiled for choice when planning how to fill their days—shimmering waters on the pristine beaches, and the rich, lush bushland of the hinterland are both within easy reach.
Perfectly placed to capitalise on this is Sixty6 Acres. As the name suggests, the property is set on 66 picturesque acres in Woombye, halfway between the bush and the sea. Blending farm life and a range of accommodation options, the property offers the ultimate rural-luxe experience.
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Andrew and Jo Pitcher are the property owners, and Woombye locals. “The vision was always about creating an amazing destination close to the beaches of the Sunshine Coast, that combined quality accommodation, livestock, and fresh produce, anchored in a game changing hospitality offering,” Andrew said.
The couple purchased the property 13 years ago. At the time, it was a run-down cane farm. Hard work, and a clear vision have helped bring the property back to life. Now Sixty6 Acres boasts a mix of luxury cottages, and 93 large, powered sites, along with crops including sugar cane, pineapples, strawberries and citrus, and a stable of furry friends like sheep, miniature English donkeys, and chickens. Horses also agist on the property.
Complementing the accommodation and scenic surrounds, is The Farmhouse Restaurant and Bar, showcasing local produce, businesses and brewers. Seven outdoor magnesium plunge pools offer guests the perfect place to relax. All of the property’s facilities are for the exclusive use of Sixty6 Acres’ guests, keeping the space private.
Having a long association with the region, Andrew and Jo were eager to provide an exceptional experience for their guests, while honouring the property’s past and ensuring its legacy.
“This is home for us,” Andrew said. “We both grew up within four kilometres of Sixty6 Acres. We believe in the region, we believe in the growth prospects, and we believe in the local produce.”
An experience destination
Andrew and Jo made a deliberate decision to make Sixty6 Acres more than just accommodation. “Guests are looking for experiences rather than just somewhere to stay. That means they are looking for destinations to stay at—expectations are really high. That’s why we have accommodation, farm experiences, recreation facilities and hospitality combined into one great guest experience.”
Agritourism has helped Andrew and Jo introduce extra income streams to help support the business. “Diversification is very important for increasing the share of wallet you are taking from each guest,” Andrew said. “We’re always looking for more opportunities.
“At the moment, we generate income from accommodation, hospitality, crops, the farm shop and animal agistment. But the absolute key to our viability is the accommodation revenue.”
This means blending different activities and opportunities, and appealing to a broad range of holiday makers is vital. The recent addition of 93 powered sites and heated magnesium pools were part of the property’s master plan, in line with ensuring Sixty6 Acres continues its growth and prosperity.
“The pools are part of our leisure and wellness activities, which we will expand over time. They have been fantastically well received. The powered sites open up our farm to a much wider audience and range of budgets, and allow us to deliver accommodation that is very much self-service.
“We now have a much broader guest base than before. It does mean that some activities need more supervision and the risk of damage is higher, but we are aware of that. We have had to add to our ‘rules of entry’ to ensure the property remains in great condition, which is non-negotiable from our perspective.”
Sustainability as a focus
Andrew and Jo take their roles as stewards of Sixty6 Acres’ land and the surrounding landscape seriously. Sustainability is embedded into their culture and work ethos, and is always a key objective, during daily operations as well as during expansions and future planning.
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“We use solar energy, we treat our own wastewater onsite, we are on tank water, and we irrigate from our own spring-fed lake. We have significantly re-greened the property as well, revegetated a five-metre buffer along our creek line, removed weed species and planted more than 25,000 trees.
“We would argue that the property is significantly enhanced with the use we are making of it, and will continue to improve. The species of bird life that we have attracted back to the property has increased 10-fold.”
Looking ahead
On the long-term legacy of Sixty6 Acres, Andrew hopes the property and the business will benefit the whole region. “I want us to be an innovative contributor to the local economy, building scale over time, and working closely in partnership with other tourism businesses.
“We would also like to be seen as a leader in agritourism nationally, helping to keep the Sunshine Coast on the map.”
Reflecting on lessons learnt during their time at Sixty6 Acres, Andrew said it is important to remember that not every guest comes to a property or holiday destination looking for the same thing. “Some are interested in agriculture, some the hospitality, some the recreation, and some just want to chill out in their accommodation. And there are some that want to experience all of it!”
There are plans for further expansion at the property, though Andrew said nothing is slated for the near future. “While we add to our guest experience over time, we believe that a ‘flight to quality’ is underway, and we aim to differentiate on that.
“We don’t focus on price — instead we focus on the quality of what we offer, and we are blessed to be located in the centre of the beautiful Sunshine Coast.”
