Lady Ethel’s House c. 1930
Sleeps 5 | Bedrooms 2 | Bathrooms 1
Perched on the banks of the Balonne River, the quiet township of St George dates to the 1860s. Travel west over the Great Dividing Range through red dust plains, to find wide streets lined with purple jacaranda trees and classic historic Queenslanders. Lady Ethel’s House was built around 1930, high set to overlook rambling gardens with palm trees and flowering plants, and provides an idyllic sanctuary for those keen to discover South West and Outback Queensland.
Owner & host Tess named Lady Ethel's House after her Great Grandmother, Mrs. Ethel Violet Cronk - and Ethel is also her mother’s middle name. Ethel was a quiet and humble lady from Ipswich who followed her husband west. She was well-known in her family for her embroidery skills and perfectly-baked potatoes. Tess has spent time lovingly reviving the cottage, resulting in a beautiful vintage interior combined with modern conveniences.
There’s lots of gorgeous period charm throughout, with yellow, green & pink leadlight windows, tongue and groove walls & ceilings, original doors, wide cedar floorboards, and high ceilings creating an airy feel. Open up the leadlight French doors from the main bedroom onto the front verandah with original wooden balustrade, linked to the romantic butterfly staircase that leads to spacious private gardens.
Two bedrooms sleep up to four guests, one king bedroom and the other with queen bed, fitted with quality, pure cotton sheets and linen bedding, and featuring antique furniture, vintage pieces and artwork. There’s also an additional sleep out room with single bed for a 5th guest, offering flexibility for larger groups and families. The bathroom has a bath for soaking in, shower, and soft Australian cotton bath towels.
Relax in the light-filled open plan living area with large sofa & armchairs with handmade feather cushions, stacks of magazines, record player with a selection of vinyls, wood fire, smart TV and complimentary high speed WiFi. The fully-equipped kitchen has everything you need for a deliciously simple country breakfast, including handmade sourdough and local jam, rolled oats & sugar for porridge, and fresh milk & butter. Pantry staples, along with plunger coffee, loose leaf tea, hot chocolate and marshmallows are also included in your stay.
Scattered throughout Lady Ethel’s House you’ll also find a curated range of local art, photography and handmade gifts, available for purchase through Handmade St George, a short walk from the cottage.
Outside, guests have exclusive access to established gardens with entertaining areas and BBQ, fire pit, and a veggie patch that’s almost complete. Take a stroll at sunset along the river, breathing in fresh country air filled with the sweet scent of jacaranda and frangipanis, and enjoy a casual BBQ dinner and bottle of local wine in the garden. Come morning, why not start the day early with a dip at the local swimming pool or artesian thermal hot springs, then return to relax in a cane chair on the verandah, enjoying a leisurely breakfast & coffee.
Special Features
Fire Pit
Breakfast Provisions
Vintage & Antiques
WiFi
Things To Do
St George is located 500km west of Brisbane and is the gateway to Outback Queensland. A quiet town with a slower place of life, just sit back and unwind, or explore national parks, cellar doors, fishing, historic pubs, or attend one of the region’s many annual events. Around the corner, shop the best local arts, crafts and homewares at Handmade St George, and it’s just a five minute stroll to cafes, pubs, shops, award-winning restaurant, and the river walk. Visit Riversands Winery on the banks of the Balonne River, sample wines, fortified muscats & port, then enjoy scones with homemade grape jam in the cafe garden. On the river, you can water ski, kayak and paddle board, or enjoy a river cruise. It’s a short drive to Nindigully pub, Queensland’s oldest pub, dating to 1864. Take the Cotton Farm and Winery Tour, held every Thursday from May to September, and admire the Thallon GrainCorp silos painted with iconic local scenes, that won Best Rural Art at the 2019 Australian Street Art Awards.
