Weed king Kevin's new life in tourism

AFTER almost three decades operating a major weed spraying business Kevin Brown has ventured into tourism. 

Together with his wife, Isabelle, the couple have established the Gleneagle accommodation business on what was once Mr Brown’s family farm. 

Located in a picturesque valley at Riana, the business features unique luxury dome accommodation catering for couples. 

Before establishing their tourism business, however, most of Mr Brown’s career was spent operating the Coastal Weed Spraying enterprise. 

Mr Brown first became involved in the spraying game after purchasing a retractable spray unit in 1995. 

After a discussion with Michael French of the Emu Bay Railway he started spraying the line from Burnie to Melba Flats and after the successful completion of that work expanded to the entire Tasmanian Rail Network. 

Mr Brown said they were the last contractor to traverse the Western Line from Burnie to Wiltshire Junction. 

Over the year he worked with the Waratah/Wynyard, Central Coast, Latrobe/Kentish, Circular Head and Burnie City Councils. 

Their work also included treating from Marrawah to St Helens.

They were the first contractors to spray Launceston City Council urban street program using four rigs performing three programs annually. 

Mr Brown said abseiling all dams in the Mersey Forth and West Coast was challenging but rewarding and more efficient than previous Hydro spraying methods. Less than one day per dam wall. 

With many established relationships with Hydro, Local Government, Main Roads and TasRail, Coastal Weed Spraying was sold to GBE Civil Con struction Corporation in 2000 and was the only private business purchased by a state-owned business enterprise. 

After a few years, however, Mr Brown said they noticed that the business name had lapsed, so they re-registered the business and Coastal Weed Spraying was back home at Riana. 

They again secured contracts with TasRail, again working the entire Tasmanian Rail Network and were soon back working local councils Parks and Wildlife, Zinfra Gas Pipeline. 

Over the years Mr Brown said they also did a large amount of work on private properties in the Central North and North West including the Black River Beach Farm and worked treating rice grass in the Duck River Estuary for a few years. 

After a long and enjoyable career in environmental weed control, Mr Brown said it is disappointing that State Government, Local Government, Parks, TasRail and State Growth continue to be blindfolded with regards to the environmental damage caused by invasive weed species. 

Few people get to sell the same business twice, but Mr Brown said after a successful advertising campaign with Tasmanian Country that was achieved. 

He now would like to wish the new owner of Coastal Weed Spraying, Steven Hays Contracting, all the very best. 

These days, the Browns are busy hosting tourists from all over the country and the globe on their property. 

“When our contract finished with TasRail in 2019 it was time to come home and have a go at something else,” Mr Brown said.

 “We just googled glamping basically and all these different options came up, but we thought the domes looked good and were something different.” 

They officially opened the accommodation business in 2022. 

Mr Brown came across an advertisement for a full-sized replica of Michelangelo’s David which was up for sale by the Burnie Council. 

Thinking it would be a unique addition, the Browns were quick to purchase the statue, which now sits in the middle of their garden.

Mrs Brown said they often get repeat visitors to the accommodation who are impressed with the standard and the peaceful and private location right next to a large on-farm dam. 

Mr Brown has also spent many years developing the property’s garden and planting trees. 

Each accommodation dome is equipped with private bathroom facilities and a large outdoor bath. 

The couple have also recently invested in a large dome to host functions and events such as weddings. 

They also have plans to develop more facilities on the property, including a bar and extra toilets to cater for larger groups of people.

The couple say they are planning to host more events including weddings in the future. 

To find out more go to www. glen eagletas.com.au