OUR HISTORY

Hillstone St Lucia and Hundred Acre stand on the foundations of a very old house called Hillstone. The story of this house (and us) begins with the enterprising Englishman William Dart.

William was a wheelwright and coachbuilder who, after turning 20, decided to create a new life for himself. His solution was to immigrate to Australia in the 1850s. Within a couple years of arriving in Brisbane, he was growing cotton, bananas and a family (he had 8 children) on the Brisbane River flats. This was near where the university boatshed now stands.

Later, in the 1880s, William built a grand house for his wife and children and named it Hillstone. It served his family well until, 40 years later, it became the first clubhouse for the Indooroopilly Golf Club. This club was the predecessor of the rooms and terraces that we still have here today. However, in 1985 the Indooroopilly Golf Club moved to Long Pocket, so the area became St Lucia Golf Links, a public golf course with its own reception centre.

The original clubhouse is heritage listed along with Hillstone’s Mango Tree, an iconic centrepiece and focal point of all those in attendance at a Hillstone event. We invite you to take a step-by-step trip down our memory lane and explore the detailed history of our Home on the Hill below.

In 1986, Jens Holland and Hans Pettersson took over the running of the old clubhouse – only recently having arrived from Sweden. Jens and Hans have continually invested in the expansion and refurbishment of the buildings over the past 30 years, making it an iconic landmark in St Lucia. They have met the changing needs of a growing market, catering to corporate meetings, events and the wedding industry. At the core of their service is the delivery of a first-class experience that is unique, homely and memorable.

Each of the rooms has been extended and upgraded, with décor exuding Queensland charm and intricate detail – enhancing the stunning views of the golf course surrounding it. The most recent renovations occurredin 2020, with the Hillstone kitchen upgrade and completion of mini golf with attached dining Pavilion.

With St Lucia Golf Links recently joining Hillstone and hundred acre bar, all three brands have united to be operated and managed by Jens and Hans. In winning the lease agreement for the Golf Pro Shop and golf cart fleet, their promise to the Brisbane golfing community is to bring the course back to life in cooperation with the Brisbane City Council.

This promise has already flourished in 6 months alone, with significant investment going into upgrading facilities and introducing new features. These include the Foresight Golf Simulator and Golf Pro Shop, which also acts as a private events space.

Further renovations and improvements are planned for the coming years. Our story has a bright future and an interesting history.