Wominjeka (Welcome)

Gembrook Retreat is a 22-acre property on Boon Wurrung/Wurundjeri country in Victoria, given in trust to be run as a place of spiritual retreat and renewal. We invite people on to the land to encounter God in creation, and to equip each other to live a soulful life.

The Retreat is maintained by Quakers Jane and Steve Hope and their children, and Samara Pitt. There is also a wider volunteer community governed by the values of hospitality, simplicity, community and care for the land.

We welcome individuals, couples, families and small groups to run self-directed and self-catered retreats. Whether you come for an afternoon or for a few days, it is our wish that you experience the abundance that this land has to share.

gembrook_retreat

White waratahs come in before the pink and red one

White waratahs come in before the pink and red ones we are more familiar with. They are not as dramatic, but still look good in a vase! #waratahseason #gembrookretreat #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat

Old broken stove. New shiny stove. #gembrookretrea

Old broken stove. New shiny stove. #gembrookretreat

This area behind our guest car park is full of reg

This area behind our guest car park is full of regrowth of indigenous plants, it has come up with very little help from us. Beautiful. #revegetation #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat

Finally! FRoGR folks, at last I have found an actu

Finally! FRoGR folks, at last I have found an actual frog, instead of just hearing them teasing me from around the dam. This one was hiding in the proteas. I think it’s a Haswell’s froglet. It was good to see a happy frog, given that it seems like there have been high numbers of frog deaths on the east coast of Australia. This one had its back to me but I decided not to hassle it to see its face. #friendsofgembrookretreat #FRoGR

Thanks to our local @spencers_store_gembrook who i

Thanks to our local @spencers_store_gembrook who is offering free coffees today to celebrate their 6th birthday…head on over all you 5km radius folks for your essential lockdown caffeine and balloon therapy #lockdownlife #happybirthday #gembrook #spencersstoregembrook

Lara and Lucy pruning the overgrown fig, Sam givin

Lara and Lucy pruning the overgrown fig, Sam giving chookpoo to the mulberry, and the apple in full blossom #friendsofgembrookretreat #FRoGR #gembrookretreat

Proteas have such fun ‘common’ names! However

Proteas have such fun ‘common’ names! However it turns out the internet lied and I got some names wrong the first time I did this post. Introducing Susara honey cross, Joey Pink Mink and Thomas Pink Mink. We do have a Possum Magic protea somewhere though!

Splashes of colour on a grey day #lockdown #FRoGR

Splashes of colour on a grey day #lockdown #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat

This kookaburra was sitting quietly at the entranc

This kookaburra was sitting quietly at the entrance to the bush track walk at the bottom of the Retreat. #kookaburra #encounteringthewild #gembrookretreat #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat

The first daffodil #springiscoming #gembrookretrea

The first daffodil #springiscoming #gembrookretreat #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat

A sunny winter’s day at David’s cabin, availab

A sunny winter’s day at David’s cabin, available now for bookings. Come spend a few days wandering the land, see our website for details #davidscabin #gembrookretreat #retreat

Watched this last night. We have so much to learn

Watched this last night. We have so much to learn from Bangarra’s stories of ancient culture, joy, suffering and strength. Highly recommended #naidoc2021 #bangarra #healcountry

In NAIDOC week, some of us are starting to read an

In NAIDOC week, some of us are starting to read and discuss this book together. It invites us to look at our family history, and for those of us with colonist heritage, to interrogate the stories and silences contained in our inheritance. To start, we need to ask what countries did we come from, why did we emigrate, and to whose Country did we come, and what happened to the people to whom this Country belongs. #naidocweek #healcountry #doingthework

Posted @withregram • @rewildingchristianity SEEI

Posted @withregram • @rewildingchristianity SEEING WITH NEW EYES: As I get ready to celebrate NAIDOC week and learn from the Indigenous community how to Heal Country, I accept who I am. I am rich, privileged and 5th/6th generation coloniser, who benefits 100% from the horrific war my people began in order to occupy this land.
My culture will do what it can to help me be in denial about this, with many 'if's' and 'buts' and 'it wasn't your fault'. This denial is unhelpful, exhausting and will keep our stories haunting us for generations.
If we can see the denial for what it is, we often move to feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, helplessness and confusion. Letting go of these, and embracing acceptance is an absolute game changer, and it means we can go confidently to a place of compassion and listening.
With acceptance of who I am I can confidently say, when it comes to Indigenous lives, I must listen and learn.
It means I can confidently say, when it comes to equality and issues about poverty, I must listen and learn.
If you want some help with this, or want to hear positive stories of folks listening, check out @i_h_house and @_the_intersection_

Enjoy NAIDOC WEEK.

#rewildingchristianity #gembrookretreat

Winter working bees. That last one is Toby and Lou

Winter working bees. That last one is Toby and Louise minding the roosters. Ignore Louise licking her chops. #workingbee #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat #gembrookretreat

Sunshine and games on a winter’s day #gembrookre

Sunshine and games on a winter’s day #gembrookretreat #friendsofgembrookretreat

Congratulations to our friends at @i_h_house for 2

Congratulations to our friends at @i_h_house for 20 years and some stunning murals by Aunty Cody Smith and her family

On the weekend Steve cut a gas tank in half to cre

On the weekend Steve cut a gas tank in half to create a bell #gembrookretreat #FRoGR #friendsofgembrookretreat

Early morning puns. Gulp.

Early morning puns. Gulp.

For the winter solstice we gathered down the hill

For the winter solstice we gathered down the hill around a fire in the clear cold night. We shared stories of darkness and light from our own lives, ate together and sang songs. Follow Jane @rewildingchristianity to see and hear her reflections on encountering spirit on the land #wintersolstice #gembrookretreat #landGodsoul

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Recent Posts

Gembrook Retreat news May 2021

June 3, 2021 by Samara

During lockdown I found myself with a lot more time on my hands and began a practice known as a sit spot…. Read more about Jane’s sit spot practice, and other updates including our new Gembrook Retreat hoodies, the Meeting House which is nearly finished, smiling faces from our Chestnut Harvest Open Day and some … Continue reading Gembrook Retreat news May 2021

Chestnut Harvest Day 2021

April 19, 2021 by Samara

It was great to have a good crowd coming to this year’s chestnut harvest day. Chestnuts were collected, roasted and dragged up the hill to be turned into many delicious meals in the coming weeks! Thanks everyone who came, picnicked, enjoyed a day on the land and donated to support the work of Gembrook Retreat.

Chestnut Harvest Day COVIDSafe plan for April 17

April 9, 2021 by Samara

Chestnut Harvest Day April 17

April 9, 2021 by Samara

Come join us for a day collecting chestnuts and enjoying the land Saturday April 17, from 10am – 3pm