St Aubins Village

Overview & Vibe

St Aubins Village is a heritage-listed two-acre village on the edge of Rockhampton — grounds dating to circa 1870, cottages from 1879 and a Heritage House built in 1889 — run by one family who live on site. Janice and Brian Dawson bought it in 2017 after their daughter Lauren married here in 2016 and the family spent eight months dragging the run-down grounds back into shape for the day. They have been holding weddings ever since. The feel is a restored heritage hamlet rather than a function centre: blooming gardens, lush lawns, a paved courtyard, a blacksmith's barn and quaint cottages, in what the owners themselves call a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of cattle country.

Setting & Style

Ceremonies happen across the two acres rather than in one room — on the front lawn under the gums, on the manicured garden lawn facing the cottages, and under the covered barn. The Heritage House and its verandahs, the antique-filled hallway and the staircase give the getting-ready and portrait backdrops; the paved courtyard and the barn carry the reception. The venue is licensed and runs its own bar out of a vintage caravan — The Village Bar. Its own photography shows the lawn set with white chairs and a floral arch, a clear-roofed marquee with round tables and a dance floor, and the courtyard dressed for dinner under the trees.

Ideal For

Couples in Central Queensland who want a garden wedding with heritage buildings as the backdrop, and who are happy to work closely with the owners rather than a function-centre sales team. Lauren holds an Event and Wedding Planning certificate and coordinates the day herself. Because it is small, family-operated and books out well ahead — the site's notice board currently reads limited 2026 dates with 2027 now open — it suits couples planning a long way out. It also runs elopements, and the same grounds host wakes, engagement parties and milestone birthdays.

The Need-to-Knows

No guest capacity is published anywhere on the site, so the maximum has to be confirmed on enquiry — the only numbers shown are for the Garden Tea catering product, which runs to a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 100. Wedding and elopement pricing starts at $2,100 and packages are quoted by phone or email; there is no per-head rate on the page. Accommodation is a single cottage, Calico Cottage, at $240 per night, with a double bed, kitchen and its own bathroom — the venue suggests it for the groom and groomsmen to prepare in. The Heritage House can be hired for wedding preparations and photographs at $380 for the day, giving the bridal party the whole homestead and a kitchen for caterers, but it is not available overnight. Inspections are by appointment only, office hours Monday to Friday, and the venue takes an annual summer break.

Standout Feature

The award record, which is unusually deep for a venue this size: #1 Australian Wedding Venue (Unique) in 2021, 2022 and 2024, Top 3 in 2025, Top 10 for Wedding Venue – Co-ordinator in 2025, and category wins across the Capricorn Coast & Central Queensland awards every year from 2021 to 2025 — plus five stars on Easy Weddings and a Best of Queensland Experience listing. For a two-acre family property in a regional city, that is a remarkable run.