Elsie’s Cottage: Stories of pioneers leap from pages in luxury cottage
This is a place filled with the stories of the legendary pioneers which oozes country style, charm and hospitality. It also enjoys some of Queensland’s most spectacular views.
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With spectacular views across the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the sea, there’s little reason to leave Elsie’s Cottage.
This is a place filled with the stories of the region’s legendary pioneers which oozes country style, charm and hospitality.
It also just happens to be surrounded by some of the most magical places on the coast including Kondalilla, Gardners and, Mapleton falls, Baroon Pocket Dam, great restaurants, wineries and hinterland trails, while Noosa, the beaches and Australia Zoo are a short drive away.
The beautifully renovated, two-bedroom and two-bathroom cottage in Montville has every modern convenience you would expect in luxurious accommodation – from the matching white Smeg appliances to three baths, heated towel racks, a coffee machine, and 65 inch smart TV.
But after settling in, and meeting our host, as a local the first thing I wanted to do was delve more into the history of the cottage and its links to our pioneers.
With the rain coming in over the range, it was the perfect time to pick up a book by Hessie Lindsell on the life of Elsie’s grandfather Joseph Dixon.
Joseph Dixon was one of the first settlers in Buderim in 1870. A Quaker with a reputation for hard work, he grew sugarcane and brought the first sugar mill to the region (all five tonnes of it up the mountain).
It was a time when paddle steamers would take goods back and forth from Mooloolaba to Brisbane, when passenger travel was via horseback and the mail came via Cobb and Co coaches.
Dixon had 787 acres of land in Buderim, around Dixon Road and the central area near the post office.
Now it is home to some of the most sought-after real estate on the coast.
The collapse of the world sugar price in 1891 put an end to sugar growing, at great loss to the Dixons.
Later he became the first selector at Flaxton, taking 800 acres where he planted bananas and citrus trees before turning to dairy and cattle.
Dixon’s wife, Alice, Elsie’s mother, was the Sunday school teacher with Sunday school picnics often being held at the Dixon property.
Described as having “the most amazing sky blue eyes and beautiful long blonde hair” Elsie was always “elegantly dressed”.
Her husband Clive Blair was the postmaster in Montville and used his WWII pension to renovate the cottage, including establishing beautiful gardens.
Fast forward to 2023, Joseph Dixon’s great, great-grandson Matthew Clarke and wife Sarah purchased the cottage from Elsie’s daughter Roslyn, determined to keep it in the family.
The couple carried out a major renovation to create a more open-plan kitchen and living area, along with a modern, long deck complete with outdoor bath to soak up the incredible views.
The kitchen and bathrooms have been completely renovated with one featuring a huge modern, white round bath and the other a more traditional bath, as well as a large shower.
The gardens on the property have been revamped with large lawn areas, an outdoor fireplace, while retaining some of the original old trees.
At sunrise, as rays of orange light break through the clouds, the deck is the place to take in the panoramic views which stretch from Noosa to Moreton Island.
Armed with binoculars, thoughtfully provided, it’s easy to enjoy the mornings and afternoons watching the birds fly by or peering down into suburbia.
Throughout the cottage, there are lots of personal touches, from the framed photo of a young Elsie to an antique cupboard belonging to the family in one of the bedrooms.
There are also books on the local history of Montville, along with plenty of information on places of interest.
For the colder winter months there’s a fireplace in the living room, well stocked with kindling, large pieces of wood and a fire starter kit.
The Clarkes’ hospitality and attention to detail is evident throughout the cottage with everything well labelled, comprehensive instructions provided, along with a welcome hamper which normally features wine, bread, cheese and other goodies.
The large bed was comfortable with beautiful Australian linen sheets and large Australian cotton bath towels in the bathrooms.
It’s the sort of hospitality you can imagine Elsie’s family would have offered as they welcomed guests to the beautiful Montville property.
It’s the same hospitality we experience as we venture out to enjoy a superb “from our farm to your fork” meal at Mapleton pub, an afternoon of wine tasting and lunch at Flame Hill Vineyard and Restaurant and an evening meal of exceptional pizza and pasta at Fiorio & Co in Montville.
Great food, good wine, conversation and making lovely connections is what attracts people to a hinterland experience.
Sarah Clarke sums it up best in her introduction to guests booking in.
“When you leave a beautiful home to go on a vacation, you look to stay in a beautiful place to relax and unwind. We offer a place that has that special level
of luxury.
“Whilst the view is centre stage, it is all the small details we add that make it special.’’
Elsie’s Cottage
Just outside of Montville,
Sunshine Coast
From $750 plus charges a night with a minimum two-night stay.
elsiescottage.com.au
Mapleton Public House
2 Flaxton Dve, Mapleton
mapleton.pub
Flame Hill Vineyard and Restaurant
249 Western Ave, Montville
flamehill.com.au
Fiorio & Co
3/182 Main St, Montville
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