Coungeau House

About Coungeau House

Coungeau House is a Seaside Holiday Home available for use by disadvantaged families and not-for-profit organisations.

Coungeau House is situated on a half-acre block in a quiet street in Bongaree and has spacious grounds. Coungeau House is a 'Queenslander' style historic home with french doors at the entry and in the three bedrooms which open onto the verandah. The verandah has out-door dining tables with chairs and comfortable sling back chairs to relax in.

The house can accommodate at least twelve people as the three bedrooms and verandah sleepout have a combination of single beds and double bunk beds. There are two bathrooms, the inside bathroom has a shower, basin and toilet and the verandah bathroom is a wet-room and includes a basin and toilet.

The dining room and kitchen each have six seater dining tables and there are lounge chairs in both dining and living rooms.

Naoum and Emily Coungeau

The story behind the name

Naoum and Emily Coungeau built their Bribie retirement home in 1916. The couple ran a successful restaurant for 30 years in Queen Street, Brisbane and their commercial success allowed them to become significant patrons of the arts and contributors to charity.

Emily at the age of 50 became a celebrated poet and lyricist, writing the words for Auster, the first Australian opera ever performed by a professional theatre company. Naoum and Emily, in 1936, left their home on Bribie Island to the Church of England as a rest home for Clergy. Coungeau House was sold by the Church to Toc H in 1967.

After extensive fund-raising by the Bribie and Brisbane Toc H communities, renovations were finished in 1974 and the house (with attached dormitory) was opened to provide holiday accommodation for people with disabilities and people in need. The spacious Hall built under the house has been a meeting place for many organisations on Bribie Island as well as a venue for concerts and other community gatherings.

Facilities

What's included

🏠 The House

A 'Queenslander' style historic home with french doors opening onto the verandah from the entry and all three bedrooms. Accommodates at least twelve people with a combination of single beds and double bunk beds across the three bedrooms and verandah sleepout. Two bathrooms — an inside bathroom with shower, basin and toilet, and a verandah wet-room with basin and toilet.

🍳 The Kitchen

The kitchen has two refrigerators, an oven with cooktop, microwave oven, electric frying pans, toasters, crockery, cutlery and a variety of miscellaneous equipment for meals to be prepared in the house. The dining room and kitchen each have six seater dining tables with lounge chairs in both dining and living rooms.

🛏️ The Dormitory

A separate, security screened dormitory with six double bunks and one single bed is situated behind the house and has separate male and female toilets and showers.

🎭 The Hall

The Hall under the house is large and has a stainless-steel galley style kitchen with two electric ovens with gas cook-tops, microwave oven, refrigerator, and electric Zipboiler system. Two BBQs are also available for use. The Hall has crockery, cutlery, electric frying pans, toasters, saucepans and miscellaneous kitchen equipment for catering purposes. The Hall is set up with a stage at one end and has seating and tables for 100 people.

Fees

Fee to use the House

Per adult per night $30

Disadvantaged/disabled young people (up to age 25) per night $10

Fees were correct at time of publication. Please contact us to confirm current rates before booking.

Fee to Use the Hall

Hall hire rates

Hourly hire rate $25/hr

All-day hire $200

Fees were correct at time of publication. Please contact us to confirm current rates before booking.

In Pictures

The House

Outside, inside and the verandah — a classic Queenslander on a half-acre block in Bongaree.

Front Entrance

Coungeau House 2020

Front Verandah

Lounge from Entry

Dining Room looking towards Lounge and Kitchen

Kitchen

Dormitory

House showing Dormitory

The Hall

Seating for 100 people, a full catering kitchen, stage and BBQs — ideal for community events and functions.

Hall and Kitchen

Hall from Kitchen

Hall Kitchen

The Hall

The Ian Fairweather Cottage

When the celebrated artist Ian Fairweather died on Bribie Island, he left his cottage to Toc H. In 1978 it was moved into the grounds of Coungeau House.

Ian Fairweather Cottage

Cottage Garden

Cottage from its Courtyard

Bribie Island

About the Island

Bribie Island is only an hour away from Brisbane and one of a large group of islands in Moreton Bay. Bribie has an enviable climate due to its sub-tropical position with dry, warm and sunny days in spring, autumn and winter. Bribie Island is connected to the mainland by a bridge across the Pumicestone Passage and has been a holiday destination since the early 1900s and has maintained its traditional sea-side charm.

From Coungeau House it's only a five minute stroll to the Jetty along the Pumicestone Passage Esplanade where sea views and bird life abound as well as cafes and shops. The 'Passage' has safe family beaches with white sand and calm water while the ocean side is a surfing beach and is protected by Surf Life Savers.

The Returned Services Club and the Bribie Bowls Club are close by for meals and entertainment and you can catch up on history at the Seaside Museum. Bribie has everything to make your holiday an enjoyable, fun and relaxing occasion.

Bribie Beach Scene with Jetty

Bribie Jetty in the Morning

Bookings & Enquiries

Contact us about Coungeau House

To make a booking or find out more about Coungeau House, get in touch via our contact form and select "Coungeau House enquiry" from the dropdown.

Make an Enquiry

📬

Coungeau House Contact

Dedicated contact details will be added here once Coungeau House email has been established.

The story behind the name

What's included

Fee to use the House

Hall hire rates

The House

The Hall

The Ian Fairweather Cottage

About the Island

Information & Brochures

Contact us about Coungeau House