Transforming Ayr’s old general store into a thriving event space has been a dream come true for Burdekin local Justina Wilson.
After losing her husband of 17 years in 2005, Ms Wilson was forced to downsize her home.
She says this meant finding a new purpose for her much-loved antique furniture and fine dining crockery.
“I always loved old furniture so when I lost my husband I went from a big Queenslander into a small house and all of my antique items didn’t fit in my new house,” she says.
“So, I had to do some culling but some things I couldn’t part with so I thought I should keep them and start up a little business and use them as hire items.”
Ms Wilson soon started Vintage Rose Event Hire from her backyard shed offering event styling and antique furniture for hire.
Over the last seven years, the business has gone from strength to strength with Ms Wilson realising she wanted to expand the business to a brick-and-mortar shop.
“I grew up living one block away from the general store so I always had my eye on the store and I said if it ever was up for sale, I knew I wanted to buy it and refurbish it.”
“I now have a main formal dining area and separate tea rooms to hold private events and high teas.”
Ms Wilson says the shop was rundown when she purchased the property and spent nine months renovating the space at the beginning of 2021.
“As I was transforming the shop at the start, I threw my arms in the air and thought, what I have done,” she says.
“But as it transformed and as time went on, you could see the beauty back in the building.”
The renovations included a full repaint, polishing the floors, adding air-conditioning, a new bathroom and kitchen.
Ms Wilson says the best part of the refurbishment was planning the landscaping.
“There was nothing in the garden except bindis and thorns and a large cactus in the middle of the yard,” she says.
“It now is a dual garden event space complete with an assortment of tables and chairs, beautiful flowers,
lush lawn, a rustic shed and outdoor bar.”
Running Vintage Rose Event Hire takes a full inventory of antique and unique items including furniture, crockery, 150 sets of English china, lace tablecloths, crystal glasses and silver cutlery.
The 55-year-old says she is happy to know she can give old items a new life.
“Some of my items would be 60 to 80 years old and it really is just an incredible feeling knowing that you
have given some of these items a second chance,” she says.
“I do always have my eye out for new items and it is exciting when I find a new piece.”
After officially opening the store in September 2021, Ms Wilson says the response from locals and out-oftowners had been “overwhelming”.
“It still does feel a bit surreal that it has finally come together because it has taken some time but it has been so satisfying and rewarding,” she says.
“I’ve had such beautiful comments and I honestly would never have imaged Vintage Rose Event Hire would ever be like this.”
Vintage Rose Event Hire – “High Cheese” ~ photography by Quagliata Photography.
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