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All Dolled Up – the NEW LOOK Doll Museum
Ready to impress visitors for the Castle reopening this Saturday.
Dolls may not be the first thing you think of when you think of a Castle, yet the Sunshine Castle in Bli Bli has a long and significant history with dolls. In fact, dolls are a big part of the reason the Sunshine Coast has its very own Castle in the first place. Yes, it was built to house fairy-tales and dolls in 1972.
Whilst the Castle has grown and diversified and focussed more on it’s medieval displays over the last couple of decades the original doll museum (added in the early 80’s) has always been a part of the experience and had withstood the test of time.
For better or worse the Sunshine Castle has been known for its dolls and has embraced its doll reputation. The old doll museum featured 2000+ dolls and knick-knack many of which in recent years had seen better days. The dolls had become cult but there was no question that many of the dolls were more than ready to retire.
Then Covid 19 forced the Castle into a long beauty sleep and the Castle team faced with this extraordinary opportunity – decided that it was finally time to get ‘All Dolled Up’.
Talented local artist Khatti von Leigh who had previously designed and painted the murals on the party terrace of the Castle was asked to lead the project and instantly had a vision for the space.
Khatti explains “I have wanted to get creative in that doll museum space since first visiting 15 years ago. The timing was perfect and I was excited to take it on. It did take a while to find the right look for all the different little areas and displays. These projects have a habit of growing with every idea I have. It was very important to me to find backdrops that perfectly show off the beautiful and timeless dolls we have chosen for the new display. I love that it is fresh and new, but still reminds of the old”
The New Look Doll Museum as part of the Castle self-guided tour is ready to welcome visitors from this Saturday when the Sunshine Castle reopens to the public.
Sunshine Castle owner operator Birte Benecke-Uhrig known as Queen B and her team, could not be more excited to welcome visitors again and have ensured they can do so safely. Queen B invites “We really hope that locals alike will seize the moment and explore the treasures in their own backyard, we are super ready to extend everyone the royal treatment!”
Under current restrictions the Castle advises that booking is not necessary but may ensure disappointment when quotas to go through are full.
Tickets can be purchased at the front counter on arrival or pre-ordered over the phone and will allow admission for a 1-hour self-guided tour through the Castle and all its displays including the much loved treasure hunt for the young at heart. The Castle Café remains closed until restrictions ease further in order to allow more people to do the tour. All further details and updates can be found on the Castle website and Facebook.
5 royal reasons to choose our Castle for your Wedding in Australia!
Happily ever after’s can happen anywhere, from the intimacy of your own backyard to a classy hotel or resort or a bare feet beach affair… but it does not get much more magical than a Castle. For brides-to-be, choosing a wedding location is one of the most important choices they will make for their “big day”… aside from perhaps choosing the dress and, oh yes, the groom!
Here are our 5 deal makers:)
- Choosing a Castle in Australia is not as easy as it is in other parts of the world – so we are super unique here – in fact we are Australia’s biggest Castle – as well as one of only two operating as venues full time! In fact we are the only Castle of our kind all together 🙂
- For many, marrying in a castle satisfies a childhood dream of being a princess for a day. A castle offers fabulous backdrops, both inside and out, to frame your perfect day. From turrets to a keep, thrones in our great hall, to a courtyards with moat and drawbridge, the architecture and history can transport you back to a bygone era in an instant, where lords and ladies sat in waiting for their kings and queens.
- Exclusivity is often also of great importance to a bride and groom; they want to enjoy their wedding celebrations in the company of just their special friends and family. With our only one wedding per day policy our Castle is truly booked exclusively meaning that you have the place to yourselves for the duration of your ceremony and reception… now this really does make you feel like a king and queen!
- Use the Castle as the backdrop to your elegant white wedding or be super quirky with a theme – where only your imagination is the limit. We have had some amazing themed weddings over the years from the obvious princess to superheros, from fully plated armour to a Viking theme – and everything from Gothic to Harry Potter and Game of thrones.
- Marrying in our Castle will be sure to give you and your guests memories to last a lifetime and, contrary to what many people think, a castle wedding doesn’t have to break the bank. We offer flexible packages to suit all budgets, your wedding day can be as lavish or simple as you want it to be.
If you are keen to find out more about our weddings – please contact us via our wedding page or send us and email at weddings@sunshinecastle.com.
A quick profile of Queen B
QUEEN B PROFILE
As the Managing Director of the Sunshine Castle since 2006, Birte has 13 years of tourism and events expertise as a tourism operator and venue manager and in depth knowledge of the tourism industry in Australia and internationally.
Birte Benecke-Uhrig alias Queen B is a Tourism Marketing and Event Specialist with over 25 years of international experience in the tourism and event industries.
Her background includes 6 years as PR and Marketing Coordinator for Tourism New Zealand based in Germany and 2 years working in events and publications for the European Central Bank amongst a plethora of other tourism based roles.
In addition to her extensive Business Administration, Management and Marketing experience, Birte holds a BA in Literature and Languages and a Diploma in Tourism Management. Birte and her husband Stephan Uhrig also run Absolut Toys – a quality Toy and Collectibles business that is also based at the Sunshine Castle since July 2018 but has been trading on the Sunshine Coast and online since 2010. (www.absolut-toys.com)
Birte is passionate about her community and business environment. She regularly contributes her time to several charities, various advisory panels, generously supporting a plethora of organisations and community groups.
She is a founding member and board member of My Wedding Wish – a locally founded charity that gifts weddings to the terminally ill. Birte is the Charity Development Executive and has consistently contributed her time and skills alongside CEO Lynette Maguire to grow My Wedding Wish from a small Sunshine Coast based project to a National Australian Charity. (www.myweddingwish.org)
In late 2018 Birte established the Bli Bli Free Little Pantry which sits on the fence-line of the Sunshine Castle and addresses food scarcity and poverty issues in the local community by providing 24 hour pantry access to non perishable products for people to donate to or take from. (www.facebook.com/bliblipantry)
Watch a few of the recent interviews with Birte about tourism on the Sunshine Coast, on the Queen B story and on Queen B’s most recent bucket list event.
Queen B’s reasons to choose the Sunshine Coast
Becoming Queen B – the story that led to Birte running the Castle – as told in a nomination interview for the Visit Sunshine Coast Board.
The Sunshine Castle has been chosen as a feature event in the Destination Series of the inaugral Curated Plate Culinary Festival in August 2019. Birte appears in the promo video for ‘A Royal Feast of Opera’. She has announced that this is a bucket list event for her in her career as Queen B.
What’s On for the Easter School Holidays at Sunshine Castle
THE TRUTH ABOUT MAGIC
Get up close and personal with resident knight Sir Justyn and his special interest in magic and more in the middle ages. He will enthrall young and old whilst sharing his knowledge about witches, wizards and warlocks in an interactive demonstration.
Back with his favourite activities all young archers are able to learn or perfect how to shoot the medieval longbow (rubber-tip arrows) under the guidance of Sir Justyn.
Be sure to listen out for the daily canon fire displays – that folk promise will be hard to miss.
Learn a little more about history, castles and castle life and join in Sir Justyn’s trivia challenge with your royal team to be in to win.
Have a hoot and learn about Owls!
Raptor Vision is visiting the Sunshine Castle these school holidays with a selection of beautiful Owls for you to meet and greet.
As a local wildlife exhibitor Raptor Vision educates on birds of prey.
The aim is to teach people how to live with birds of prey in their environment and also to
create awareness about conservation and rehabilitation for birds of prey.
Come and meet these amazing creatures in a setting that is but missing the boy with a scar and Hedwig.
The meet and greet is free with regular admission, individual owl holding will cost a little extra.
