Sunshine Coast The Farm Gym increases sales following Covid-19 isolations

A unique farm gym created five years ago on the Sunshine Coast hinterland has struck gold with interest spiking 30 per cent in the business. Read why here.

The need to bond after pandemic isolation has proven a windfall for a unique Sunshine Coast fitness brand.

The Farm Gym along Mapleton Rd, Burnside launched in 2017 as a unique gym on a 16ha farm, offering personal training, group classes, and an outdoor obstacle course, using equipment such as tractor tires.

The holistic gym – which includes a small ‘gym garden’ – has a strong focus on strengthening each member’s body, mind, nutrition and community.

The Farm Gym owner Luke Harvison said interest in his gym had spiked by by 30 per cent in the last financial year as groups poured in to bond and socialise after feeling disconnected during Covid-19.

The Farm Gym co-owner Luke Harvison, left, and co-owner Acacia Harvison, right. Picture: Supplied.

“Because of the lack of contact and division [during the pandemic] … the desire to connect came back even stronger than before,” he said.

The Burnside resident, who runs the company alongside his wife Acacia, said the number of groups each month had doubled in the past two to three years.

“[It’s gone] through the roof,” he said.

Mr Harvison said the groups were mostly from schools, businesses, and even other gyms wanting to connect and try a new, unique training spot.

The Farm Gym. Picture: Supplied.

He said school groups, from grades 10 to 12, turned up for effective resilience and team-building exercises outside of their classrooms.

Mr Harvison said the recent growth and success of his gym was also “massively” underpinned by a boost in high-quality staff, having doubled his team to about nine people in the past three years.

“Our team is everything,” he said.

“We put a massive focus on who we take on.”

The Farm Gym's gym garden. Picture: supplied.

While he had “massive dreams” for the gym in the future, Mr Harvison said he wanted to focus on expanding his team and revenue for now.

Asked why he launched his gym in the first place, Mr Harvison said he and his wife saw a gap in the market for a fresh take on a fitness facility as most gyms were inside an airconditioned, industrial building.

It comes as the sport industry in the region swelled in the 2021-22 financial year, bringing in $405m to the region, up 46 per cent on the previous year.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast The Farm Gym increases sales following Covid-19 isolations