Gabbinbar Homestead is a full-service wedding venue. Our estate is located high on a mountain peak in the city of Toowoomba, South East Queensland. Located on 25 acres adjacent to Toowoomba’s escarpment and only one-and-a-half hour drive from Brisbane and a one-and-a-half hour flight from Sydney.

How long has Gabbinbar Homestead been operating?

Gabbinbar Homestead was built in 1863. Initially the homestead was owned by Reverend Nelson, but was passed to his son Sir Hugh Nelson, the Premier of Queensland (1893-1898), and for many years afterwards served as the summer resort for Queensland’s governors. Barry and Lynda Bernoth started restoring the homestead in 1997 and Isaac and Mel Moody completed the restoration from 2011, before officially opening the doors for weddings in 2012.

How long do brides normally book in advance?

We encourage couples to be proactive and book in advance however we also are happy to accommodate couples looking for a wedding date with less lead time. If you’re after a Saturday or peak season try and book 18 months in advance.

How many guests does Gabbinbar Homestead cater for?

Our glass roof conservatory is our main reception location, located in the centre of the homestead. This beautiful area can seat up to 150 guests on long banquet tables and 120 guests on our round tables. We also offer cocktail receptions for couples who would like something more casual. For larger weddings we can offer an outdoor reception under a marquee on our beautiful croquet lawn, or even tables set up on the lawn underneath the stars. We are very flexible when it comes to receptions, we really love working with each couple and their guest numbers.

Do you have a wet weather back up plan?

Definitely! Couple’s who have a wedding at Gabbinbar Homestead enjoy exclusive use of the estate. Wet weather can be disappointing but definitely isn’t a deal breaker at Gabbinbar. We can do the garden party on the verandah’s of the homestead and open the front rooms for guest use during this time. Our Pavilion is a great option for any ceremony but is also used as our wet weather back up. Finally, the beautiful glass conservatory is completely indoors and heated and cooled to perfection, so guests can stay warm and dry.

What is the most unique way a bride and groom have ever arrived to Gabbinbar Homestead?

Definitely by helicopter! Such an amazing way to make an entrance!

Do you have any vendors you love working with, we would love to know?

We are so lucky to work with so many amazing vendors. We love that we are able to welcome local vendors from Toowoomba but also vendors from further afield. On a wedding day we aim to assist our couple’s vendors as much as we can in order to make everything seamless. Team work makes the dream work!

If you could choose would you suggest winter, summer autumn or spring to be married?

We do wedding year-round and every season is unique and therefore makes a wedding unique. We’re lucky that we have really distinct seasons in Toowoomba with crisp winters, gorgeous autumn hues, beautiful warm summers and picture-perfect springs. We always say there is never a bad season to be married, so choosing one is to difficult - we’ll take them all!

What was one of the craziest weddings you have had?

Crazy good weddings are usually the bigger ones and we love it when our couples incorporate different cultural nuances into their day!

Who do you think Gabbinbar Homestead is suited for?

Gabbinbar Homestead is a very flexible venue - we love to say YES! We really welcome personalisation and customisation which ensures no two weddings are the same. We hope Gabbinbar is a venue that is suited to all couples. We’re honoured to host so many beautiful weddings through out the year, so we see so many wonderful styles and trends. Every wedding is so unique and we love working with couples to create their dream wedding.

If you could share one piece of advice for anyone interested in Gabbinbar Homestead what would it be?

Come and visit us for a viewing - the venue is even better in person! We can’t wait to meet you to discuss your wedding plans.