Cobden and the wider Great Ocean Road region is toasting the success of Heytesbury House after the bed and breakfast took state honours on Thursday night.
Heytesbury House owner operators Kathryn and Andrew Stubbings were on hand at Crown’s Palladium Grand Ballroom to collect their Gold Award.
Their business was judged the Best Hosted Accommodation in Victoria at the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards – a crown that follows two Silver Awards in the same category in 2016 and 2017.
Heytesbury House will now represent Victoria in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards this coming March.
“It has been a very big year for Heytesbury House and to win Gold after successive Silver Awards was a real thrill and reward for a lot of hard work,” Kathryn said.
“This year we successfully completed the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program as well – so to win Gold at the state awards is a great way to end the year on a high.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to make it to this point and we hope that our success brings business to our Cobden community and greater awareness of the beauty of the hinterland region.”
Kathryn and Andrew relocated from Melbourne to Cobden eight years ago and took on the challenge of operating Heytesbury House. The property had previously been run as a Bed and Breakfast, and had a period of inactivity prior to their purchase.
Andrew said all four individually styled suites and all the communal areas had been extensively renovated, the grounds and gardens had been overhauled and the history of the property showcased as part of the eight-year makeover.
“A huge thanks must go to our support network of family, friends, guests and others throughout the tourism industry and local region without whom we couldn’t have achieved this honour,” he said.
“We would also like to congratulate the team at Alkina Lodge at Moonlight Head who were awarded Gold in the Luxury Accommodation category.”
