Labour of love
WHEN Rachel Jackson’s 50th birthday was looming, her husband Aaron went on a mission to find the perfect place to celebrate.
He wanted somewhere private and high-end to host the event, where numerous guests could stay in luxurious accommodation on-site.
But he struggled to find a venue that ticked all the boxes. Realising others were no doubt facing the same dilemma, he decided to create one.
Jackson, from Sydney, purchased a 20-hectare property that was previously home to a family-owned orchard but was no longer operational at Bangalow in the Byron Bay hinterland in 2019.
He set about transforming it into a luxury accommodation and event space during the COVID-19 pandemic, saving the old infrastructure from the orchard and repurposing the materials in the renovation.
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Three Meadows now sleeps up to 14 guests across two residences, The Meadows and The Cottage, that can be booked exclusively or separately.
It is popular with groups of friends and families celebrating milestone birthdays, and hosts wellness retreats, weddings, corporate retreats and private functions.
Originally a jeweller, Jackson is also a furniture and sculpture designer and manufacturer, and his bespoke creations can be seen across the property, including large floral spheres made from recycled oil barrels, rustic chandeliers in The Shed and Pavilion event spaces and large sliding wooden barn doors.
More than 6000 trees and shrubs have been planted on the property for native wildlife, which includes black cockatoos, koalas, echidnas and wallabies.
There is also a helicopter take-off and landing site on the grounds and an in-house concierge available to support guests.