Gympie restaurant under new management

For 26 years, Kingston House Impressions has had the same owner. Now, the reins are being handed to new hospitality guru with a passion for service.

Ms Jones (on the left) officially handed over the reigns to Ms Christoffel (on the right) on Wednesday afternoon.

Kingston House Impressions has been running for more than 26 years under the watch of Kim Jones.

Operating out of an old Queenslander built in 1901, the building has served as a doctor surgery, maternity hospital and private residence but in recent memory, housed the popular eatery famous for its cob loaf and other comforting offerings.

This week, the restaurant was officially handed over, with Ms Jones posting on social media on Wednesday evening after her last day.

“To all my wonderful customers, I would like to thank you all for your continuous support and making my job (passion) so easy over the last 26 years,” she said

“Julie Christoffel will be the new proprietor. Julie has many years of experience in the hospitality industry.

“Julie will be keeping all the wonderful staff and she will continue to run Kingston House as we have over the years with the same great food and service.”

Ms Christoffel told the Gympie Times Ms Jones was ready for a break and to do some travelling and decided to lease out the restaurant to her.

She undertook a chef apprenticeship in her younger years in Brisbane, but upon completion of her course decided she wanted to work for Queensland Police for 20 years.

She then began working for the United Nations in Africa and East Timor before moving back to Australia in 2006 when she returned to hospitality.

“I’ve worked as a head chef in Northern Territory, South Australia but mostly in Brisbane,” she said.

Although she’s worked all around the world, she was born in Goomeri and is no stranger to the Gympie region.

Ms Christoffel was working as a head chef in Cloncurry until 2019, when she lost her job due to Covid.

“My son lives in Gympie so I decided to stay with him a while and I’ve been here ever since,” she said.

Ms Christoffel also co-runs the restaurant for the Queenslander Hotel on Mary Street.

Kingston House Impressions is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11.30am-2.30pm and 5.30-8.30pm and is located on the corner of Channon and Barter Streets in Gympie.