New business opens on Red Hill Road in Gympie

A new enterprise in the heart of Gympie is the realisation of a dream for its owner and occupies a store most people recognise and that has undergone multiple reinventions.

Cass Hourigan created a flower crown as a part of her ‘Flower School’ presentation.

A new florist, Hilltop Blooms, has opened on Red Hill Road in Gympie in time for Valentine's Day.

Owner Cass Hourigan is all stocked up for the store’s opening on Valentine’s Day.

Before the business opened its doors it generated interest via social media, with local growers reaching out to Ms Hourigan.

“It’s great that I can use local products. I’ve gone around sourcing local products this week, and I’ve got a few contacts lined up, which is really good,” Cass said.

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Ms Hourigan long dreamed of owning her own business, so two years ago when she saw the store for sale, she found her chance.

Six months later, she sold her Gympie home and moved into the shop.

“Behind the shop is a house. We lived there for a few months until we were able to buy another home”.

Hilltop Blooms toke six months to prepare for it’s opening.

Living with her fiance and two children, Ms Hourigan has been a Gympie resident for 12 years. She grew up in Bathurst until she was 15, when she moved between the Gold Coast and Hervey Bay, before finally settling down in Gympie.

Her love for flowers came hand-in-hand with her innate creativity.

“My mum is an artist. She inspired me.”

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In 2022, Ms Hourigan graduated from the Flower School, in Brisbane.

“The course was 12 months, and I had to drive there from Gympie every Thursday. So it was a massive commitment, and I’ve got have two kids so I was trying to juggle everybody.”

Cass Hourigan adorned a guitar with flowers, for her final presentation at the Flower School. Picture taken with her son, Jonty.

For the past nine years, Ms Hourigan has been working in admin for her father’s accounting firm, Ray Hourigan and Associates, but now that the shop is opening, she is ready to give all of her attention to the florist.

Decorated with second hand furniture and industrial pendants from old restaurants, she has described the style of the shop to be “country” but also “junkyard chic”.

Eventually, Ms Hourigan plans to have themed window displays with different arrangements for different seasons, holidays and events. She has already started planning for Easter.

Originally published as New business opens on Red Hill Road in Gympie