Award-winning Tamborine restaurant’s shock closure

AWARD-WINNING Gold Coast restaurant Songbirds has suddenly closed, serving its last meals on Sunday.

The coveted restaurant set amid rainforest at Mount Tamborine has been shut to make way for 12 new villas and a convention centre on the 20ha property, which now also operates an accommodation retreat with six chalets.

The news came as a shock to staff as the restaurant had been in a rebuilding stage, only relaunching in July last year following a substantial makeover and the hiring of former two Michelin-starred chef Meyjitte Boughenout to take it to the next level.

“From our initial purchase of the property in mid-2019, the vision was always to expand its offering into a larger accommodation and corporate conference destination,” Songbirds representative Pan Li said. “Short-term closure of the restaurant will allow us to undertake this construction more quickly and efficiently”.

The restaurant and accommodation operation had been bought in late 2018 from long-time owner Bronwyn Rodwell by Vanuatu-based international resort operator Tongwing Weng for $3.2 million.

He immediately set about restoring the wellknown property, with one of the first steps being to revive the restaurant. It recently celebrated being awarded two hats by Australian Good Food Guide.

Mr Li said on completion of the new development, the restaurant would relaunch, potentially under a new brand, but still honouring the Songbirds’ past.