A state government funding scheme to boost tourism accommodation has signalled another step forward for prominent businessman Steve Birkbeck’s latest luxury development plans.
The state government’s tourism accommodation funding program has boosted prominent businessman Steve Birkbeck’s latest luxury development plans for his Raintree Farm.
The inaugural funding round of the Unique Tourism Accommodation Proposals program announced today included boosts to 17 accommodation projects across the state.
Restaurant and accommodation The Dam on the 880-hectare Raintree Farm is among those to receive up to $100,000 of funding.
The money will go towards a geotechnical study, bushfire assessment and landscape design for Mr Birkbeck’s most recent proposal to build an eco lodge awaiting approval from the Shire of Denmark.
Previous plans, submitted to the Shire of Denmark in May, included five separate proposals for a total of nine short-term stay chalets and four caretaker cabins.
Raintree is currently home to three cabins by off-grid cabin company Heyscape.
A total of 15 cabins will all be operated by the WA-based accommodation provider.
The WA-based accommodation provider has recently launched its new cabin type at The Dam, marketing the upgraded stays as “Australia’s first high density immersive cabin experience that combines culinary, eco, astro and wellness tourism experiences”.
Business News understands there will be three dual cabins with saunas and outdoor spas, eight single cabins and four family cabins.
Two years prior, the Birkbecks were successful in rezoning an almost 40-hectare lot on their agribusiness estate for the creation of the lodge.
At the time, Mr Birkbeck’s vision for his farm comprised of six chalets, six eco huts, a lodge and a luxury day spa valued at $5 million.
The proposed luxury day spa also offered medical cannabis treatment options, hoping to attract high-profile celebrities and athletes.
The Dam opened as a farm-to-table restaurant in 2021 and accompanies the Cannabis Botanical Distillery at Raintree.
It forms a part of the Birkbecks' wider goal to create an all-encompassing tourism hub on their farm with ocean views.
Dirk Hartog Glamping also received funding for the preparation of a masterplan and feasibility study for the development of 12 eco luxury glamping tents with private ensuites.
Murchison River Camp in the mid west, Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge in the Kimberley and Bickley Tree Stay in the Perth Hills were other tourism locations to receive a boost for increased accommodation in the initial funding round.
