Round Hill Retreat is a secluded cabin in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, shaped by land, family history, and a spirit of resourcefulness.

Created by Alex and Chloe Grant, both born and raised in the hinterland, its name honours Round Hill Station in Culcairn, where Chloe’s grandparents lived and her mother was born, while also reflecting the ethos of Round Hill Projects—the building practice Alex now leads.

Their path back to the hinterland was anything but easy. They worked in remote places such as Cooktown and Papua New Guinea to save the money needed to buy the land that would become Round Hill. For Alex, the connection to place was already deeply ingrained: he grew up on his grandparents’ horse stud in the Glass House Mountains, where days spent with his grandfather—on the tractor, fencing paddocks, mending, or working with timber and tools collected over a lifetime—shaped his enduring approach to craft and resourcefulness.

When the opportunity arose to secure a 33-acre parcel of hinterland, Alex and Chloe saw it as a chance to return and create something lasting. The retreat is the result of that vision—bootstrapped, carefully crafted, and grounded in place. More than a private escape, it is a way of sharing the landscape they worked so hard to make their own.

The retreat takes the form of a steeply pitched, gabled cabin clad in blackened timber. Its silhouette recalls the simple utility buildings of rural Australia, while its detailing and materiality bring refinement. Set into rolling paddocks, the building dissolves into its landscape rather than dominating it.

Inside, lime-washed walls diffuse soft light, ceramic tiles add depth and warmth, and Rosa Nuvola marble introduces richness to the earthy palette. Sheer linen curtains filter daylight and shift with the breeze, blurring the boundary between house and horizon as the bedroom opens fully onto the sweeping landscape through full-height sliding glass. Morning light floods the space and evening breezes flow through—creating a constant connection between living and landscape.

A custom tiled window seat anchors the living area, framing uninterrupted outlooks and inviting long moments of stillness. The kitchen and dining zone open directly to an outdoor terrace, where a wood-fired oven and fireplace create a natural gathering place for family and friends.

The retreat’s bathing spaces embrace an elemental honesty. A freestanding metal tub, exposed copper pipework, and blacksmith-forged fixtures recall the utilitarian character of rural life, while their careful detailing brings refinement. A curved shower room lined in Japanese tiles completes the experience, balancing rawness with comfort.

Designed with the Sunshine Coast’s subtropical climate in mind, the retreat encourages seasonal and outdoor living. A circular concrete plunge pool sits just beyond the cabin—heated for year-round use, it mirrors the sky and treeline, offering a place of immersion and reflection.

The orientation captures prevailing breezes, while robust, low-maintenance materials ensure durability and a patina that will deepen its character over time.

In a region where development often prioritises scale, Round Hill Retreat demonstrates another path: modest in size, rich in craft, and deeply connected to the land it inhabits. Built patiently and carefully by a local family with the aim of creating something honest and enduring. 

By opening the retreat to others, they offer visitors a way to share in the landscape they worked so hard to secure—a place to slow down, that’s hard to find… and hard to forget.

About Round Hill Projects

Round Hill Projects is led by Alex Grant, a Sunshine Coast local who has built a reputation over 15 years for delivering thoughtful custom homes, beautifully resolved renovations and functional extensions.

Good building is about listening first. This is how Alex approaches every project: hands-on, practical, and personal. He’ll walk your property, take the time to sit and listen over a coffee, and genuinely understand your vision. He builds alongside you, navigating constraints with warmth, openness, and genuine care for both process and outcome.

Alex’s own Round Hill Retreat, a luxury escape in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, shows what he values: natural materials that age beautifully, spaces that flow with life, and construction that’s built to last. Unmistakably well-crafted.

Whether restoring a classic Queenslander with respect for its unique charm, creating a coastal home that stands up to salt air, or building something entirely new that feels like it belongs, Round Hill Projects delivers homes that are thoughtfully designed, expertly crafted, and made for life.