WEDDING VENUES TO SUIT ALL TASTES
Australia’s space program accelerating for takeoff
BIG or budget, waterfront or hinterland, here are eight Gold Coast and Tweed venues ready to help you pull off a dream wedding:
THE BOWER ESTATE Natural Bridge
From elopements in a hidden grove to fairytales in a fairylit marquee, this 120-acre estate in the hinterland’s green heart does it all. The Bower uses southeast Queensland’s 2021 Wedding Caterer of the Year, Ridgeway Catering.
MOBILE BARBER SHOP DEPOT Bundall
Barber by day, wedding venue by night. Serving up a smorgasbord of photo backdrops, this BYO space cuts costs by letting you choose your own caterer.
THE VALLEY ESTATE Currumbin Valley
The Gold Coast’s newest and most exclusive venue already has some big-day blockbusters under its belt. A red-brick manor with dramatic chandeliers and arched windows is its centrepiece, a skip away from a charming white chapel with antique oak pews and hinterland views.
THE ISLAND GOLD COAST Surfers Paradise
Go small or go big thanks to the choice of two penthouse rooms, a terrace and The Glasshouse.
THE ACRE BOOMERANG FARM Mudgeeraba
Dance the night away in a 100-year-old barn after indulging in good food and wine from Michelin star chef Matt Kemp. An on-the-day co-ordinator will keep everything running smoothly.
ANCORA Tweed Heads
Overlooking Terranora Inlet, the waterfront Ancora’s Mediterraneaninspired interiors are a match with modern coastal weddings.
SUMMERGROVE ESTATE Carool
Panoramic ocean and valley views, a vineyard, olive groves and a stone bridge spell endless photo ops. Packages can include villa accommodation, a private beauty room, garden or chapel ceremonies and creative catering in a beautiful barn.
ROSEWOOD ESTATE Beechmont
Sitting pretty on the Lamington Plateau, the 100-year-old Rosewood Estate specialises in I dos with views that stretch from South Stradbroke Island to Coolangatta and over Numinbah Valley.
TEN years ago, talk of spaceports and lunar landings or rocket ships taking Australians to the stars was pretty much all pie in the sky.
But Australia’s fledgling space program will this year take a giant leap forward with a series of rocket launches and satellite projects to seal the future of the $12bn industry.
And the recently minted Australian security alliances – the AUKUS with the UK and US and the Quad with India and Japan – will be expanded to “shape” space tech collaboration.
Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo has outlined his 2022 plans to accelerate the national space program, which he said would see human space launches from here within five years.
Mr Palermo, who took the role in 2021 after 14 years at Virgin Galactic, departing as chief operating officer, said Australia was just starting to develop a brand as an emerging “space nation”.
“I see 2022 as us really starting to arrive as a space nation in international forums,” he said. “The world wants to work with Australia, that’s clear. And the agency team in the first three years built those bridges … now we will turn it into active activity and partnership.”
That includes with NASA in Arnhem Land mid year for a series of multiple rocket launches, NASA’S first launch from a commercial launch pad outside the US. This comes on top of a signed agreement with NASA to see
an Australian-made rover included in a future mission to Mars.
There are now close to 150 space-related organisations in Australia, and he said his challenge was to ensure they could be tied together for collaborations to avoid duplication, including with the new Defence Space Division.
Mr Palermo singled out the Gold Coast’s Gilmour Space Technologies and Black Sky Aerospace from Jimboomba as also being ad
vanced in their plans for launches. In 2022, space would be included into AUKUS and Quad Dialogue “priority” negotiations where Earth observation data and technology could be shared for peaceful regional use and would open the market for Australia’s space industry.
“We have a real opportunity for Australia to be a regional hub for human space flight activities, I truly believe that and that’s a position we should grab,” he said.