Our story

Lovestone Cottages is located on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi (also known as the Gubbi Gubbi). Their ancestral territory encompasses a vast region of southeastern Queensland, from the northern reaches of Brisbane to the iconic Glasshouse Mountains. For generations, the Kabi Kabi people have maintained a profound spiritual and physical connection to this environment, thriving through sustainable resource management and deep ecological knowledge.

Continuing this story of connection to the land, we follow the journey of Hamilton Muirhead, a resilient Scottish timber worker who arrived in 1882.

Seeking opportunity amidst economic hardship, Hamilton, his wife Mary, and their children brought a heritage of craftsmanship from the plantations of Ayrshire to the rugged landscapes of Queensland. After initially settling near Maroochydore and working at local mills, Hamilton eventually purchased land in Razorback—now known as Montville—at a time when the area was a dense, nearly inaccessible rainforest, long recognized by the Gubbi Gubbi people for its seasonal richness.

The family’s early years on the range were defined by tenacity. They transported their belongings through the thick scrub by bullock team and packhorses, clearing the land by hand to establish some of the region’s first crops of strawberries, bananas, and gooseberries. By 1906, as Montville emerged as a growing resort town, the Muirheads purchased the specific land where Lovestone Cottages now stand. There, they built their family homestead and established a thriving orchard along the escarpment slopes, deeply anchoring their future in the soil of the Blackall Range.

Hamilton lived a life intimately tied to the bush, remembered as a man whose connection to the land shaped not only his family’s destiny but the very heart of the developing community around him. Today, Lovestone stands as a testament to that enduring spirit—a legacy of hard work, resilience, and a deep respect for the natural world that has been preserved across generations.

“Through decades of careful custodianship, the property evolved from the 1914 ‘Raleigh Orchard’ into a Hinterland retreat. The first guest cottages were established in 1992, with a third added in 2003. In 2020, the estate was renamed Lovestone Cottages, reconnecting it to Hamilton Muirhead’s Scottish heritage.

Today, our cottages—Maple, Rosewood, and Quandong—are named after the rainforest species that define this historic landscape.

Strolling through Lovestone’s gardens, you’ll find layers of history in every corner—from old fence posts and historic machinery to the original stained glass. The same fertile volcanic soil that once fed the Muirhead orchard still nourishes our citrus, avocado, and macadamia trees today.

Beyond the greenery, the escarpment drops into a lush rainforest haven, home to koalas, sugar gliders, and a vibrant chorus of native birds.

At the heart of the garden stands a majestic 300-year-old White Fig, visible from all cottages. Known as the Mother of the Forest, it symbolises nature’s power and our responsibility to protect it.

Before Montville’s landscape was cleared for fruit-growing, old-growth rainforests thrived with Hoop, Bunya, and Queensland Kauri pines, remnants of a 65-million-year-old ecosystem. Most were felled for timber in the late 1800s.

Recognizing the absence of Bunya pines as a loss, we aim to restore them, ensuring future generations experience these ancient trees once more.

When Tamara and Jonathan took over the property, then Montville Grove, they immediately began removing invasive weeds and encouraging natural regeneration of native rainforest species. As advocates of the Land for Wildlife Program, they remain dedicated to restoring the environment while thoughtfully maintaining the cottages and grounds for guests.

Their vision is simple: to honour the history of the land while offering a peaceful, romantic escape where every guest feels welcomed, cared for, and connected to the natural beauty around them.

For many visitors, Lovestone becomes part of their own story — a proposal, an anniversary, a quiet retreat, or simply time away together.

We feel incredibly fortunate to care for this place, and even more fortunate to share it. We look forward to welcoming you to Lovestone.