Running Pavillions proves a winning endeavour

By Grantlee Kieza, Industry Reporter

On May 23, 1770, Cook steered his ship into one of the most beautiful locations he’d ever encountered. Joseph Banks the rich young scientist financing the expedition recorded that the Endeavour “landed near the mouth of a large lagoon” and that the tropical vegetation was “a sure mark that we were upon the point of leaving the Southern temperate Zone”.

Banks, a handsome burly young playboy with a ponytail, waded through thick mangroves toward the shore, noting that while the sea had abounded with fish, the mud in the swampy parts near shore housed innumerable oysters.

Pelicans flocked to the shoals and sand dunes, and Banks carefully studied a bustard, a bird with a long, slightly curved white neck and a black-capped head. The span of its orangebrown wings was impressive. One of the crewmen shot a bustard weighing eight kilograms, which was cooked for dinner, and Banks declared he had eaten no bird to equal its taste since leaving England in 1768. Cook named the place Bustard Bay. The town that grew nearby is Seventeen Seventy.

The location around Seventeen Seventy is just as beautiful as it was when Europeans first visited the area more than 250 years ago and Sinead and Adam Stokje are perfectly poised to take advantage of it as the resident managers of luxury beachfront resort Pavillions on 1770. The superb apartment complex is located midway between Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy, about 90 minutes north of Bundaberg on the Discovery Coast.

It’s Sinead and Adam’s first property, but since they took over in August last year, they’ve taken off at a fl ying pace, raising their lett ing pool from 30 units to 36 in that time frame and they are confident they will have even more back on board soon.

Adam was working as a carpenter and Sinead as a real estate associate in 2013 when Adam’s parents, Bill and Andrea Stokje, sold their real estate business in Narangba and headed north to pursue a career in management rights, initially running Noosa River Retreat and now Oshen in Yeppoon.

Adam told Resort News : “Sinead and I watched carefully and saw what my parents had achieved in management rights over the last 10 years and thought the industry would really suit us. It was perfect, given we could combine our previous career roles all into one business model.

“Midway through 2020 I was still working as a carpenter but injured myself, that’s when we both seriously decided to pursue a career change. One that could fi t in with plans to start a family and be with our two dogs every day. P50

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To get more of a feel for the industry Sinead and I travelled to Oshen Yeppoon to lend a hand during our holidays. We got a good feel for the work and systems and after a few visits decided it was time to partner up and find a property that we could operate ourselves.

“We settled on Pavillions on 1770 on August 5, 2022. Having my parents as mentors has been very beneficial because their knowledge is tenfold when it comes to management rights. It’s fantastic to be able to bounce ideas off one another and incorporate our perspective alongside everything they have learnt over the past 10 years in the industry. It has been a whirlwind but stepping out of our comfort zone and making the move has been the best decision we’ve ever made.”

Pavillions on 1770 is in an idyllic location, just a short stroll to a sublime beach and with easy access to the superb sites of the Discovery Coast including the breathtaking panoramic views from Captain Cook’s lookout. There is a peaceful calming energy surrounding this tranquil, untouched paradise. Rolling waves and salty ocean air relaxes the mind and soothes the soul.

Pavillions is surrounded by nature reserves, and local kangaroos can usually be spotted grazing as the sunsets as the sky becomes an exquisite tapestry of gold, pink and purple. There is also an abundance of fishing spots, and easy boat access to Lady Musgrave Island where turtles breed.

The point break at Agnes Water beach is a surfer’s playground with local surf schools offering lessons. There is also a patrolled beach where families and children of all ages can relax and enjoy holidays they’ll remember forever.

Adam and Sinead have loved their new business since day one.

“We really enjoy interacting with the locals and holiday makers. There is a real sense of community here,” Adam said.

“It’s a whole different vibe here in Agnes than the usual fast paced city life we were used to. This location is so picturesque, and while it’s never overcrowded, we get very busy at holiday times because everyone in Australia is now discovering the area and what it has to offer.

“At Pavillions you can be on the beach with your toes in the water in under two minutes, we’ve also got some of the only ocean-view apartments overlooking the beautiful Agnes Water Main Beach that stretches all the way to 1770.

“They are the largest apartments in the area. Our three-bedroom suites are 170 square metres all boasting large indoor spas and barbeques on the large patio areas. Perfect for holidaying families. We also have two great pool areas onsite.

Adam said one of the main issues anyone new coming into management rights should consider is that they will be dealing with multiple businesses every day in the shape of individual unit owners.

“Every one of those owners has their own individual wants and needs and it’s very important to adapt to each individual to ensure their needs are being met,” he said.

“We’ve put a lot of focus on customer service and the cleanliness of our rooms along with working in with our owner and the body corporate to rectify any visual issues as we believe first impressions of everything.

“We’re taking one day at a time; we were given the advice that the first 12 months are the hardest and always remember it’s a marathon not a sprint. Even the smallest tasks built up over time lead to an overall win eventually.”