It's our 3rd Birthday today...

Yes, three years ago tonight Darren, Charlotte and I launched our darling little 'Leila at Malmsbury' to the public. It had taken us just under 6 months of hard graft, between busy work, community, family and school lives, driving up and back from the Mornington Peninsula with our cars full of the essentials - considered personal touches to gently tell our story - along with the selected new, lovingly researched, furnishings and goods.

Our graft included planning and planting out the property to form gardens and sitting spaces worthy of relaxing, connecting with others and unwinding. With the help of the marvellous Matt Kelly we cleared and added a beautiful pergola creating a new outdoor, entertaining area along with a terriffic, new Pétanque / Bocce court, and two highly productive wicking beds and a useful potting shed. Adding in the detail brought our vision alive of providing extra touches and comforts to our already sweet, historic Miners hut/ cottage, to better nurture the people who booked their stay with us through Airbnb. Our wish to share Malmsbury as a destination became reality.

Skip ahead to today, as a family we have had the most wonderful times working and having our own holidays here at Leila. We've been able to share 'Leila at Malmsbury' with countless guests who came as a individuals, a couple or as a family or as friends, or as two families, or with work collegues or sports mates, to recharge and take-in the area, to catch up with family or friends or both, to attend even compete in sporting events, visiting the regional happenings and restraunts, to site see in the historic goldfields and natural spa country, to go boating and fishing, to take in open gardens, to participate in arts and cultural weekends, to join the open studio trails, the festival weekends, the writters events, and music and choral performances, to get amongst the Winter Lights markets, patronise Bendigo's Art Gallery events, engage in Traditional and Lost Crafts events, Anitque and Vintage Fairs, Car and Motorsycle club runs, Orchestral events, for Birthdays, Anniversaries, marriage proposals, Christmas' and Easter celebrations, for picnics and growers events, to cycle, walk our forrests and engage in forrestry care, for bird watching, to visit the dingo sanctuary, get to winery events and live music and to simply catch up with loved ones at Leila and take in this small country town tranquility.

We've found we've loved being Hosts - its been so special to offer our own space for others to come and enjoy, and the guest book tells that story. Our black board wall in the dining area has meant we've enjoyed a range of talented messages, and some guests have happend upon the 'Leila Measurements Doorway' and added themselves to the charted heights - something Charlotte loves to run in and check. The notes and only 5 star ratings we've recieved to date make this whole experience absolutely special and whilst this isn't why we do it, it feels like a beautiful partnership with every guest, making it worth evey bit of effort.

So here's to you little 'Leila at Malmsbury' and all your lovely guests. Guests, your visits mean the world to us, thank you for your lovely 5 star reviews and terrific socials', the sharing of your pics, generous comments and stories written and drawn in our guest book. We're so very chuffed for the shared gratitudes and love! I think my mum and dad, Leila and Jim (James) Sherring, would have loved this Miners hut/ cottage and whilst they may have been humbled by mum's name-sake being our inspiration, I think they'd be glad with how we have offered our home to travellers for their enjoyment and respite.

As a result of having opened 'Leila', my beloved childhood heart-space that is the Malmsbury Botanical Gardens (and the town geese), has been met and enjoyed by so many more people.

I wonder what my pioneer, gold mining, Great, Great, Grandparents, Josiah and Hannah Patten, founders of 'Patten's Hill'( and now at rest in the Malmsbury Cemetery), might havethought, had they been able to glimpse the future when one of their own 5th generation grand daughters' and family, would return to the area, honouring her own darling mother Leila's (...Leila nee Patten's) legacy of love, kindness and hospitality to all, (herself, having grown up in this area). What a strength it is to be able to share this comfortably modernised, humble little miners hut with guests.

Do you need your break? Then, book and stay here yourself at Leila at Malmsbury, and enjoy the chance to see the region as you make your very own memories with those you love.

Sharing some cake, and raising a glass in ‘cheers', we are wishing all, our very best,

Yvonne and Darren Maclean,

Hosts of 'Leila at Malmsbury'.