Rural Events & Retreats
Small functions, wellness retreats, workshops and weddings.
What it involves
Hiring your property's scenery for private events — paddock weddings, yoga and wellness retreats, corporate farm days, long-table lunches and photography or film shoots.
How it can generate income
Venue hire fees from hundreds to many thousands per event; weddings and retreats are the premium end of rural income.
Does the agritourism framework apply?
Partly — some small events can sit within farm experience premises, but a recurring wedding or function venue is usually a separate land use (function centre) outside the agritourism framework.
Zoning & development approvals
Expect a DA for anything regular or large-scale. Traffic, noise, hours, amenities and liquor licensing are the usual assessment issues. One-off small gatherings may be treated differently — verify with council first.
Setup & operating costs
Moderate to high: insurance, amenities, parking, wet-weather contingencies and event management time.
Environmental & practical considerations
Noise and light impacts on neighbours, traffic on rural roads, waste, and protecting waterways and vegetation from event footprints.
Authoritative sources
Legislative content last reviewed July 2026.