Serving Up What Matters
“Good food remains one of the biggest influences on the working-away experience.”
After decades of accommodating remote and regional workforces, Geoff Stowe from Collie Hills Village has noticed a pattern.
When workers talk about their stay, the conversation usually comes back to two things: whether they slept well and whether they got a decent feed.
That understanding helped shape the recent redevelopment of Collie Hills Village. While millions were invested in new facilities and accommodation, food remained firmly on the agenda.
"When we were planning the redevelopment, we knew we could spend millions of dollars getting everything else right, but if we skimped on the dining experience, we might as well not have bothered," Stowe says.
It's a view backed by research into the working-away accommodation sector. Studies, including those conducted by Edith Cowan University, have found that food is one of the strongest drivers of guest satisfaction.
For Chris Brettig, Village Manager and chef, the findings simply confirm what years of experience have already shown. "That's why we were firm on investing in our own in-house catering team of experienced chefs and hospitality professionals. Preparing meals on-site each day ensures greater control over quality, consistency and variety," Brettig says.
Guests have access to catered buffet breakfasts and dinners, crib meals for shift workers and freshly prepared evening meals include chicken, fish, or a steak cooked to order by chefs. Fresh ingredients are sourced locally wherever possible, supporting regional suppliers while ensuring guests enjoy freshness.
“The region is a major food bowl in Western Australia, so it’s not hard to follow our policy of sourcing local first, such as a partnership with Dardanup Butchering Company” Brettig adds.
Guest feedback and online reviews show that long-term workers consistently cite the food as the best they’ve had across similar villages in Australia.
One thing is for certain: if you are booking accommodation for workers with us, you won’t have complaints about food.
''Excellent! Food is second to none, you can really taste the chefs and cooks care about what they put out. I have been all over Australia and the food here is the best by far.
Thanks chef Abby for giving a damn and to all the staff that have pride in there work .This village feels comfortable and makes the longer stints much more comfortable. Great energy, it is amazing what a good meal can do.''
May 2026, Ben Collins QLD boilermaker