The Allawah Story — Its History

In 1996 a 150 acre parcel of virgin eucalypt woodland, located on an eastern facing mountain range near Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands was purchased to create Allawah. The land offered spectacular views, which was considered a perfect location to establish a luxury retreat.

The topography consisted of flat paddocks, granite ridges and deep gullies, which provided habitat and environment to support a wide variety of native flora and fauna. Its elevation of 800 metres (2500 feet) ensures a congenial elevated tropical climate free from the extremes of climate irregularities.

Then followed the process of gaining numerous approvals for the land to be rezoned to “Tourism Special Facilities”. A business plan was developed with the construction planned over 3 stages of development with approval for 10 luxury self- contained lodges for couples. The naming of Allawah Retreat followed, the name meaning aboriginal for “Sit down, stay here and rest a while”, considered appropriate for the nature of the retreat to be developed. Another year was dedicated to the construction of access roads, sinking bores for water, building tanks on sight to store rain water, providing power to the property and the planting of hundreds of native trees.

The overall emphasis of the development was to maximize the unique features of solitude and seclusion in an unspoilt natural environment, while offering all the features expected of luxury retreat accommodation.

The retreat began operation in November 2000.

In 2001 the Moonlight spa lodge was completed, followed by Treetops spa lodge in 2003. Hideway spa lodge was completed in 2006.

Allawah Retreat has won Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s tourism award for “Hosted Accommodation”, and the retreat has also been the winner of the HMAA tourism award for “Retreat Accommodation” as well as being a HMAA Finalist in the “Conservation & Eco Tourism” section.