Almost three months after opening, we are now settling in to looking after our visitors and guests.

This is a perfect time to come and stay - the special introductory packages based around accommodation are incredibly good value.

This issue also includes some new interactive experiences now on offer day and night, the opening of our second restaurant and our revamped website.

A special welcome to Brendan Millet who becomes our first Hotel Manager.

New ticket prices for Defiance

Opening its doors to a wider audience from Thursday 10th July, Defiance, the immersive theatre experience at Sydney’s Q Station will change its ticket pricing system to include 3 categories of pricing, being $35, $50 and $65. Defiance is an incredible journey for all theatre lovers and history buffs, and now it has become more accessible for everyone.

Performed in the stark setting of the original laundry and hospital of Sydney’s former Quarantine Station, Defiance tells the extraordinary real stories behind outbreaks of Smallpox, the Bubonic Plague and Spanish Influenza, and looks to an imagined future as the world battles an Avian Flu pandemic.

Written, produced and directed by award-winning director Carlton Lamb of Carlton Lamb Productions and starring Damian Rice, Berynn Schwerdt, Lucy Miller and Rebekah Moore, Defiance is a ground-breaking theatre show not to be missed! Set in a stunning location on North Head at the opening to Sydney Harbour, visitors will not only be entertained by Defiance but by the holistic experience that is inevitable at Q Station.

Performance Dates:
Every Thursday & Friday at 8:00pm
Every Saturday at 2:00pm and 7.30pm
Every Sunday at 5:00pm

A Reserve: $35
B Reserve: $50
C Reserve: $65

Packages: Tickets to Defiance including a two course dinner are from $115 per person. All inclusive overnight stays for two with complimentary tickets to Defiance, two course dinner at the Boilerhouse Restaurant, start from $437*

*Conditions apply. Weekend packages also available on request.

Book now for 40 Days – an exciting new experience at Q Station

Visitors wanting to get immersed into the Q Station site should book into our brand new experience today.

Developed to truly showcase this magnificent part of Australia’s past, present and future, the modern day story of “Jenny’s Dilemna” brings into perspective the relevance of Q Station in today’s world, blended with the stories of past internees and the experiences that they faced – making it a fascinating and stimulating 2 hour journey around the site.

Participants will “choose their own adventure”, solving problems and puzzles as they attempt to piece together the clues to solve the issues faced in regard to Quarantine in the modern word.

Packed full of interesting stories, games and a few twists and surprises along the way, this is one experience not to be missed.

Times:              11.30am & 2.30pm Saturday, 11.30 am & 2.30pm Sunday
Duration:           2 hours

Prices:              $35.00 Adult, $25.00 Concession & Children

Get into the Spirit … Spirit Investigator is for the sceptics as well as the true believers

Another incredible interactive journey that has just started takes place after nightfall at Q Station, when you get the opportunity to interact with the ghosts of residents past. Instead of a traditional walking ghost tour, Spirit Investigator is designed to get your investigative juices flowing using technical tools to track down the truth. Using thermometers, cameras and many other gadgets, as well as the assistance of a clairvoyant guide, you never know what you will uncover in one of Australia’s most paranormally active sites.

Time:                7.30pm Tuesday & Sunday
Duration:          2 hours

Price:                $44.00 Adult, $39.00 Concession

Visitor Centre Update

As the first point of call for customers arriving by both land and water, the Luggage Store Visitor Centre is now operational as a central hub for Q Station activities and experiences. 

Customers are enjoying the interaction with Luggage Store Visitor Centre team members as they collect tickets and make reservations for our experiences.

The final showcases in the centre are now installed and visitors have been providing great feedback on the displays. Many visitors are sharing their stories of the former Quarantine Station - some having been Quarantined here or worked at the site. 

In addition, our range of speciality books have been selling well and are of particular interest with these customers, as many can identify some of the ships that arrived at the Quarantine Station.

Opening times: 10.30am – 5.30pm.

From 50 to 70 Rooms

We now have more rooms available . We have finished and opened the final two accommodation buildings in the former first class precinct. Together with the completed fit out of our accommodation rooms in P22 in the Third Class Precinct, we have increased total rooms from 50 to 70, and most of this increase is the most popular rooms with ensuites.

Further to our comfortable room furnishings, all rooms now come complete with white Q Station embroidered bathrobe and slippers – which are a great addition to our Q Station toiletries and ideal for lounging in.

Weekend Escape Package from $436*
Overnight bed & breakfast, a 40 days experience for two and a two course dinner for two at the Boilerhouse Restaurant.

Immersion Dine Package from $478*
Overnight bed & breakfast, a two course dinner for two at the Boilerhouse Restaurant with a complimentary glass of wine and two tickets to defiance.

*All Packages are subject to availability. Conditions Apply. Valid Until 30/09/08

The Boilerhouse Restaurant has been well received and we are gratefully receiving feedback to allow us to fine tune our restaurant experience to our customers’ requirements.

We have slightly adapted our menu since opening and modified some of the dishes. In addition, our wine list is proving to be a success, in particular our house wines such as Little Penguin from South Australia, selling well. With this wine, we also make a donation from the proceeds each bottle sold to the Little Penguin Foundation.

The Boilerhouse Restaurant opening hours are as follows:
11.30am – 10.30pm (Monday – Friday)
8.00am – 10.30pm (Saturday & Sunday)

Please call (02) 9976 6220 for reservations.

For our overnight guests, our new breakfast room called Views is now completed. It features a buffet style layout and guests are enjoying the sensational harbours views just a short walk from their accommodation.

Phones Ringing Hot

Since attending the Australian Event Expo and recent media coverage (particularly our double page spread in the Sydney Morning Herald) the phones have been ringing hot with function and meeting enquiries.

Our conference co-ordinators have been fulfilling endless quote requirements and taking clients on site inspections. Getting to know the site our new conference co-ordinator Lisa Green comments;

“It’s amazing the number of enquires we’ve received. Q Station really does sell itself, with comfortable modern meeting rooms and stylish accommodation as well as the many interactive experiences to choose from. Q Station has a fantastic range of venues in which to hold anything from a conference or team meeting to a birthday party.”

For more conference and function information or a quote
email: sandra.torenburg@qstation.com.au

New Look Website

Our new look website is now operational, with thanks to the team at 33 Interactions. Take some time to browse the new site and let us know what you think.

New Images for Q Station

Those who have taken the time to look over our new website, probably took in some amazing photography and visual images of the site.

The latest images, by talented photographer and interior stylist Bridgette Di Fernando really bring the site to life and are a great representation of what every visitor will see during their visit.

Focus on Conservation

Since opening, the construction focus has shifted back to conservation work with a drive forward in the Third Class, Hospital and Isolation Precincts. Despite all the recent rain, the former Doctors and Nurses Quarters and the former Third Class Dining Room P27, were recently re-painted. This room is now available as a conference and function venue catering for up to 120 guests in a banquet style room set up.

Internal conservation work provided some relief from the rainy conditions and allowed the work crews to concentrate on the Cottage accommodation and former Isolation Wards. The works mainly related to timber work repairs, making good doors and windows and painting preparation.

Work now moves on to the adaptation and fit out of our cottages, which will be similar to the completed accommodation rooms including refreshed bathroom and kitchen facilities.

We have just won two grants from the NSW Heritage Council. One grant is to add value to an interactive model of the site and the other to assist us create a Destination Spa.

Exhibition in S9 Prepared

In preparation for the launch of the interactive night experience Spirit Investigator this month, the moveable heritage team has been conserving and installing an exhibition in a former staff cottage, building S9. 

We decided that this building was the best place to highlight the many layers of the building’s history. So instead of painting over the pealing paint to give an “as new” impression, we decided to apply a clear sealant to leave the layers visible, giving the building an aged look.

Then we placed in it some of the bright 1960s furniture and appliances from our collection to highlight the passage of time. Similarly we left the floorboards bare except for a few rugs here and there so as to create a disparity between the past and present.

Brendan Millet
Hotel Manager

Brendan has formal training and extensive experience in the Food and Beverage sector.

In this capacity, he has worked with Hyatt on Collins, Savoy Park Plaza Hotel Canberra and Hyatt Regency Sydney.

His last appointment was as the General Manager for The Barn Cafe and Grocery in Sydney's Darling St.

SandraTorenberg
Conference & Sales Manager

Sandra is tri-lingual (English, French and German) and she graduated with a Degree in Hospitality form the Cesar Ritz Hotel School in Switzerland and an MBA from Macquarie in Sydney.

Sandra has worked with the Le Meridien Hotel Melbourne and the Sheraton Westgate Hotel in San Diego where she worked as Senior Sales and Catering Manager.

WIN WIN WIN WIN

For your chance to win two tickets to see our immersion theatre show Defiance email reservations@qstation.com.au and answer this question by Friday 25th July.

P5 contains a room used for conferences and meetings at Q Station. What did this room used to be called?

1. First Class Lounge
2. Post Office
3. First Class Dining Room

July 2008

• 40 days interactive experience commences
• Spirit Investigator interactive experience commences
• Additional 20 accommodation rooms open
  
• Views Breakfast Restaurant opens
  
• National Parks and Wildlife Tourism and Partnerships Conference
  at Q Station

August 2008

• Education programs commence

September 2008

• Commence water shuttle form Circular Quay and Manly
• Community day
• Launch Coffee table book on Q Station

Please contact us in the following ways:

Website:                      www.qstation.com.au

Telephone
Bookings:  (02) 9976 6220
General Site Enquiries:(02) 9977 5145 

Email
General Enquiries: info@qstation.com.au

Postal Address
Box 50, 145 Sydney Road, Fairlight,
NSW 2094 Australia

Physical Address
North Head Scenic Drive, Manly
NSW 2095 Australia