posted on 03 Aug 20 | by

Jamie's energetic personality and cheeriness is matched only by that of his guests that have stayed at one of his gorgeous properties. Care-taking some of the finest cottages, guesthouses and B&Bs in Maldon, and also having spent a large portion of his career working at luxury hotels in Asia; he knows a thing or two about stylish accommodation and exceptional customer service. He gets a kick out of creating a personalised experience for each and every guest by chatting to them to understand their interests, and then tapping into his local connections in the region to curate a fabulous itinerary for them. 

Read about Jamie and his business Maldon Getaways in this interview and visit their website to find somewhere special for your next stay. 

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Tell us about yourself and what brought you to Maldon

Country born and raised, and following a lengthy hotel management career predominantly in Asia, the call of Australia’s wide-open spaces was too hard to resist! I headed home to a career in the travel industry and soon found myself in Bendigo. Maldon became a frequent free-time destination and it wasn’t long before I knew this was where I wanted to live. That was nine years ago. I bought a miner’s cottage, made the move and have been obsessed with renovating, digging in the garden and all things Maldon ever since. Living in Maldon, I am on hand to ensure I can provide a 'concierge' service of sorts and ensure that my guests have a stay that is just perfect in every way. I always love welcoming people to Maldon and they always end up loving the town as much as I do!

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What type of accommodation do you manage in Maldon?

Maldon Getaways started life 12 years ago offering four quaint B&B cottages from which to enjoy historic and quirky Maldon.  Now we boast 17 properties ranging from charming miner's cottages, houses, barns, an architecturally designed former church and even beautifully converted stables - catering to the needs of individuals, couples, groups and pets. We've retained the original character and charm of all our properties but with modern indulgences that create a comfortable stay.

You are sure to find a style that suits you. We have properties that are decorated with contemporary art or those that have a more antique and vintage vibe.  Regardless of the facilities you seek, you'll find them in our collection -  we can offer a rustic kitchen table that seats a small group, wood fireplaces, BBQ entertaining areas and pizza ovens, quality sound system (turntable and vinyl), a pool, blossom filled gardens and fruit trees, library nooks, luxury bedlinen and towels and country kitchens equipped for a chef.  We even have some properties that offer herbs and veggies for picking and hen eggs for collection when the girls are laying!  

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What has this pandemic taught you?

The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us to diversify our offering and do what we can to support other local businesses. We are finding lots of ways to do this. We now have a 'Lobby Shop' on our website to sell beautiful hampers comprising of hand-picked local products. This not only helps the local businesses in our area but is also a great way for our guests to sample some of the amazing products that are created by local artisans.  We also know that many of our guests travel with their fur babies, so we are partnering with the local dog groomer and pet food shops to ensure that pets enjoy their stay as much as their owners do! 

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What feedback do you consistently receive from guests about their stay?

Guests often mention the hands on way we approach their stay.  I personally like to meet and greet them where I can. I provide them a map of Maldon that I designed myself that gives them an overview of things to see when they visit. I provide them the local stories and information that allows them to interact with the community and really engage with the place.  We also get great feedback on how unique each property is, and that they look forward to trying another property in the collection next time.  

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Tell us something interesting about Maldon

I love sharing these facts as it gives some perspective about what Maldon was like during the Goldrush:

Maldon

Year 1860                                          2020 

Pubs: 40                                            2

Population: 10,500                            1500

Men:  96%                                          51% 

Women: 4%                                      49%

There have been some changes, but some things never change - you have to come and visit to find out for yourself!