A historic Sunshine Coast cattle station has lodged a development application to expand its operations into a tourist park designed to host up to 300 guests.
Yandina Station, established in 1853 and known as the region’s oldest continuously lived-in dwelling, has submitted plans to Sunshine Coast Council to add new tourism infrastructure to its 88-hectare property at 684 North Arm Yandina Creek Road.
According to the Sunshine Coast News, the application is subject to an impact assessment.
According to a development assessment report prepared by Project Urban on behalf of Yandina Cattle Station Pty Ltd, the proposal includes 74 caravan sites, 13 new tourist cabins, internal roads, carparking, and two communal facilities buildings totaling 750 square metres.
Additional features include two amenity blocks, a laundry facility, and a new community centre.
The property currently accommodates weddings and events and operates 25 tourist cabins alongside existing facilities such as a reception building, residence, and farm sheds.
The expansion would increase overall site capacity to 300 guests, with 148 staying in caravan sites, 52 in the new cabins, and 100 in the existing cabins.
“The proposed development is designed (to) expand existing tourist accommodation to support up to 300 guests combined and is strategically positioned to offer a high-quality, nature-based tourism experience within a rural setting, capitalising on the region’s scenic values and cultural heritage,” the report stated.
It further noted that the development aims to “retain and enhance the rural character of the property through the use of natural materials, sensitive siting of buildings and integration with the existing landscape.”
It described the expansion as “a well-considered, low-impact rural tourism use that will positively contribute to the regional tourism offering, enhance the local economy and protect the site’s environmental and cultural values.”
The station’s existing tourism operations were approved under a previous development permit that recognised the potential for low-impact tourism alongside rural enterprise.
However, the report acknowledged that the earlier approval “did not contemplate large-scale caravan or camping facilities, nor did it establish development across the broader site. As a result, the current application represents a distinct and expanded land use scenario, requiring a fresh assessment.”
Essential services, including water supply, wastewater management, electricity, and telecommunications, are planned to be delivered through a combination of on-site systems and existing utility connections.
For operators in the outdoor hospitality sector, the proposal highlights the growing trend of agricultural and historic properties diversifying into accommodation to capture demand for nature-based and heritage tourism.
Should approval be granted, the development would represent an example of how multi-use rural sites can balance heritage preservation with modern guest facilities, while potentially contributing to regional visitor economies.