“Your business isn’t what you do,

it’s how you make people

feel.”

The sounds of the ocean and light birdsong fill my ears as I slowly open my eyes. Before the house stirs, I quietly tip-toe into the kitchen to boil the whistling kettle and make myself that first cup of the day. I know that soon, my son will wake, busting to pull on his wetsuit and run down to the beach, boogey board in hand, for a day of fun in the surf. My husband will wander down to the coffee shop around the corner and bring back frothing lattes and treats from the bakery. I will look forward to a day of reading my book in the back yard, perhaps taking a walk to the skate park, or along the cliffs and down to the waterfront to watch the kids jump bravely off the jetty and the fishermen haul in their catch. Nan and Pop will arrive in the afternoon, just in time to challenge my son to a game of coights in the back yard. We’ll sip gin and tonic and enjoy our cheese board; pate from @greatoceanducks, cheese from @schulzsorganicdairy and as the day blurs into night, perhaps I’ll get a chance to soak in the claw foot bathtub before we sit around the record player, dusting the sleeves off the records and sing songs we’ve half forgotten, into the night. This is luxury. These are my holiday memories. This is Port Stays.‍ ‍

Welcome to The Bigger Picture; a blog that is all about building NETWORK and CONNECTION. Each month, I feature a woman in small business within my community with the sole purpose of showing support, building solidarity and sharing stories of passion.

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by incredible small businesses in the South West run by mums in their spare rooms or out in their gardens and they each have a unique story to be told; a BIGGER PICTURE to be discovered.

In today’s blog I am giving you the location of my secret hideaway; the place my family goes every year, to refresh and find a moment of calm and peace. Well, it’s not really a secret, but Port Cottage has come to be a little sanctuary for us each year as we try to find a pocket of peace that’s not too far from home but far enough that we feel like we’ve made an effort to leave the farm. If you’re a farmer, you’ll know exactly what I mean!

My feature for May is a farmer who absolutely understands the need for families to have a place to escape. Alongside her husband and three beautiful children, she has curated two stunning properties that should definitely be added to your travel wish list. Please welcome the very talented…

Georgie Selman

Port Stays

Tell us about your business and what services you offer.

Day-to-day we’re cropping and livestock farmers, but in 2022 we dived headfirst into the tourism sector by offering beautifully designed accommodation for guests wanting to experience the Great Ocean Road differently.

Port Cottage is a white weatherboard home in the heart of the coastal village of Port Campbell that we restored, while Port Farm is a new off-grid house that we built on a farm block we own just out of Port Campbell. It sits high on a hill and has the most magical sweeping views of farmland and the Southern Ocean.

What we offer is more than somewhere to stay. Each space has been thoughtfully designed to feel calm, considered, and connected to the landscape around it. We host couples, families and groups looking to slow down, spend time together, and experience this part of the coast in a more meaningful way.

Is there a story behind the name you chose?

There’s a story behind nearly everything else, but the names Port Cottage and Port Farm really began as working titles. Our ‘home’ farm is about an hour inland and we often refer to Port Campbell as Port, so in that sense the names are tied geographically, but in the end the simplicity of both names felt right when it came to opening each property to guests and making sure they had an online profile.

Where does your inspiration come from?

While the pandemic had an enormous impact on the way I thought about work and in the end, the connectivity needed to make things happen, it was really a very clever friend of mine who gave me the practical inspiration to step away from my career in strategic communications to pursue hosting. Sophie has successfully transformed old homes in Tasmania (@brunyboathouse, @sunways.orford) into beautiful accommodation whilst managing the demands of farming and children. Along with guidance from Sarah Andrews from the Hosting Masterclass, she made it possible for me to see and convince my husband how we could make the idea of offering travellers beautiful places to stay a worthwhile endeavour from a business perspective (yes, he wanted to see a budget!). An endeavour that, importantly, fits around the farm and family.

From an interior perspective, we were inspired by the history of this area and the surrounding landscape and mighty Southern Ocean; from the deep moody blues to the changing greens in the paddocks and national park. The 12 Apostles Coastline can feel both wild and calming at the same time, and we’ve tried to reflect that in the spaces we’ve created.

What is your favourite part of your job?

When I was considering leaving my job in the government sector, one of the things I was most concerned about no longer being part of a team. I love working with people, but I need not have worried because I find myself working with new people all the time and we have the most wonderful team, of mostly women, who help bring Port Cottage and Port Farm to life for every guest and for that I’m very grateful.

We also read every review together as a family and it truly does fill my cup when our guests write to us to let us know what staying at the cottage or farm meant to them. Of course, we have many people visit for holidays and milestone celebrations, and there’s even been a number of proposals at Port Farm, but people also come to us in grief or when they’re struggling and need time away from their day-to-day lives. Above all else, knowing that we’ve been able to share a place where they feel safe and can again find a bit of themselves reminds us that what we’ve created has become part of someone else’s story and I could never have imagined how rewarding that is.

What do you offer your clients that no one else does?

I think it’s the combination of being deeply connected to this place and being personally involved in every detail.

We’ve tried really hard to make Port Cottage and Port Farm so much more than a place to plonk your head for the night. Both have been created slowly, over time, by our family and that brings uniqueness that can’t be replicated.

For us, it’s not about creating a polished space that you’d see in a catalogue, it’s about creating a something that feels genuine and true to the history of the Shipwreck Coast. We’re more about small thoughtful gestures than grand gestures and we truly hope this makes a difference for our guests.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt since starting your business?

Probably to trust your instincts, even when others don’t quite see or understand your vision. There were moments when we were renovating and building where it would have been easier option to take a more conventional path, especially during the pandemic when it was difficult to source products. If anything, I’ve learnt that staying true to what feels right, tends to lead to something far more lasting.

I’ve also learnt that success is not linear and may not even be what you thought it was. It’s certainly something that changes and while it took me a while to be comfortable with that idea, understanding this has made a difference to how I approach the business.

When Georgie and I met it felt like we’d been friends for ever, as we’d been corresponding for years. We talked about our kids and farm life, about books and ‘juggling it all’ and it really struck me that it’s Georgie’s warmth and kindness that are so clearly the heart of the two properties she has curated. From the luxurious linens on the bed, to the carefully selected books on the coffee table and the range of teas to brew in a gorgeous little teapot - every detail has been added with consideration and care, simply to make you feel welcome.

We look forward to our time at Port Cottage each year. From the moment you open the door, the noise of everyday life feels far away, and you are met with a cosiness that feels like home. It’s the kind of thoughtful luxury that speaks directly to your nervous system, inviting you to settle in, let go, and let the space around you work its magic. Suddenly, it’s so simple to put your phone down, to forget about your inbox and simply ‘be’ with the people you love.

Oh, and if you’re still not convinced, Port Farm has recently been named one of the best farm stays in Victoria for 2026 by Country Style Magazine. What an achievement!

Just minutes from iconic spots like the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and the Food Artisans Trail, @port.stays accommodation are the perfect hidden gems along the Great Ocean Road, to reset your mind, move your body, imbibe something local and just be. Because sometimes, all you really need is a few quiet days away.

Edwina xx

If you are planning a stay along the Great Ocean Road and are wanting an experience that is more than just a place to stay, I highly recommend jumping onto the socials and look what @port.stays has to offer. For all FAQs, news, and information, give Georgie a follow (and your support) on her social media pages…

Instagram:@port.stays

Website: www.portstays.com.au