News
Bronze for Freeman on Ford at National Awards
Freeman on Ford, Beechworth's only 5 Star Bed and Breakfast came home with a bronze award from the Accommodation Association of Australia's (AAA) National Accommodation Industry Awards for Excellence in Sydney on Friday night.
Owners Heidi Freeman and Jim Didolis were pleased to be recognised among the top providers of 5 Star Hosted Accommodation in Australia.
Ms Freeman was also one of 11 industry personalities nominated for the Association's ACES Awards. These awards are presented to people living the values of Attitude, Commitment, Enthusiasm and Service (ACES) in the tourism industry.
"It was a great night and to come effectively third in the country behind two wonderful 5 Star experiences, was a real honor. The gold in this category went to a luxury bed and breakfast from Marysville which was obviously affected by the bushfires in 2009 and silver went to a West Australian business," Ms Freeman said.
"We are always delighted to represent Beechworth on the national stage and this was another great opportunity," she said.
Ms Freeman said the AAA awards differ from others in that the judging is shared equally between a written submission and an assessment by a mystery guest.
"Writing the submission is a major project as the information required by the Association is comprehensive. The mystery guest also provides an extensive report on maintenance, housekeeping, food, and the check-in and check-out experience," she said.
Chief Executive of the Accommodation Association of Australia, Lorraine Duffy said there were 138 finalists across the award categories.
"The businesses and people who won these awards overcame many worthy finalists and their success is a tribute to their commitment to excellence in every facet of what they do and in this case to the tourism industry in north east Victoria," Ms Duffy said.
Freeman on Ford offers luxury accommodation with four Victorian era upstairs guest rooms and two 1930s elegant guest rooms downstairs overlooking a private swimming pool and spa in landscaped gardens.
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Council names Heidi 'Mover and Shaker'
As well as taking out two other awards, Heidi Freeman was named Indigo Shire Council's winner of the 'Heritage Mover and Shaker' award at the recent Heritage Awards night.
Council's Heritage Advisor, Deb Kemp said the inaugural 'Heritage Mover and Shaker' award is a special award and not one that will be regularly awarded.
"It is intended to honor those who have made an extra ordinary effort in preserving, maintaining and celebrating the special heritage that can be found within the Indigo Shire. In this instance Heidi has been tireless in her efforts to restore, preserve and promote the heritage of Beechworth. Heidi's passion and love of Beechworth has been deservedly recognised and it is with real gratitude that she has been nominated the first Heritage Mover and Shaker," Ms Kemp said.
"It is always a pleasure to work with Heidi as she has always paid the utmost attention to detail and always aims to keep the heritage values of the place her priority," she said.
Twenty-two awards were presented with Heidi Freeman also being named winner of the Best Restoration of an Historic Building including reconstruction and additions – Commercial section and a highly commended in the Gardens and Landscaping of a Heritage Building category.
Ms Freeman, who has been renovating historic buildings in Beechworth for many years and has a real interest in the history of each building, was delighted with the awards.
"It is really great to have your hard work recognised in this manner. The awards for the garden and the restoration are very pleasing but to be named the Heritage Mover and Shaker was a thrill," Ms Freeman said.
Ms Freeman has recently completed the renovation of Freeman on Ford, Beechworth's only 5 Star Bed and Breakfast and has also undertaken renovations of retail buildings in Beechworth.
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Channel 9’s Postcards
Freeman on Ford Postcards video
Giaan Rooney and the Postcards crew visited recently – you can watch the 3min video here.
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Freeman on Ford, Beechworth review | Stars with shine
Freeman on Ford features four upstairs Victorian-era rooms that were completed in 2002 and retain an old world charm, and the latest additions, ... READ MORE....................................................................................
A five-star act in the house
CELTIC-infused with a country blues tinge is probably the best wat to describe the sound of the Miles To Go Trio...
A five-star act in the house
File Size 145KB
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Freeman on Ford hosts Celtic House Concert
The Miles TO Go Trio
"…a fine example of what creative musicians can do to take Celtic-based folk/roots music into new territory….and there is nothing else quite like them in Australia."
Fairbridge Festival Artistic Directory, Steven Barnes
The Miles To Go Trio, which has received wide acclaim for its Celtic infused music tinged with country-blues, is performing in the idyllic setting around the Freeman on Ford swimming pool in Beechworth on Saturday, 26 February.
Fremantle-based instrumentalist and singer David Hyams leads a new line-up featuring two of Australia’s most innovative string players - cellist Melanie Robinson (who also works with Tim Rogers and the Temperance Union) and fiddler/singer Jenny M. Thomas from Melbourne (described by fROOTS magazine (UK) as being "like no other violinist on the planet").
Originally formed as a compact version of the seven piece WA based act “David Hyams and the Miles to Go band”, the Trio has now taken on a life of its own with appearances at numerous Australian festivals and its first trip to the USA, for the 2010 International Folk Alliance convention in Memphis.
Heidi Freeman, from Freeman on Ford, is a big fan of the Trio and is delighted to host them at the 5 Star accredited Bed and Breakfast.
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B&B in Exclusive Company
Read about 'Freeman on Ford' in The Border Mail, Saturday 29th January... READ MORE
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Great Australian Historic Hotels
Freeman on Ford, Beechworth’s only 5 Star accredited Bed and Breakfast, is the only north east Victorian property to feature in a new book called Great Australian Historic Hotels, by Barry Stone.
Freeman on Ford features in historic hotels bookFile Size 151KB
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Virgin Blue's inflight magazine
Freeman on Ford recently hosted freelance writer, Tim Richards on his gourmet tour of Beechworth and surrounds. Here's his article published in Virgin Blue's Voyeur inflight magazine in January 2011.
High on Flavour (Voyeur Jan 2011)File Size 543KB
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Freeman on Ford entrant's in the Golden Horseshoes Easter Parade
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Freeman on Ford Luxury
Read about 'Spring-Summer News' in elegant magazine Essentials... READ MORE
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Minister Opens 5 Star Renovation
The Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding officially opened the renovation of Beechworth's only 5 Star Bed and Breakfast, Freeman on Ford, on Thursday, 21 October.
Freeman on Ford owners, Heidi Freeman and Jim Didolis worked tirelessly to complete the renovation and maintain the integrity of the original part of the building.
The renovation includes a private swimming pool and spa, three new bedrooms, a lounge room, an extended dining room and undercover parking.
"We have a passion for bringing visitors to Beechworth and offering them the high standards of service and facilities they can usually only access in city hotels. We also have a passion for history and have spent years restoring this former convent in keeping with the era," Ms Freeman said.
"We were delighted to have Minister Holding open the renovation as it's been a busy time and now it's time to celebrate," she said.
140 people attended the opening.
In September Freeman on Ford was named as one of only two finalists in the Hotel Motel Association Australia (HMAA) national awards for excellence in the 5 Star Hosted Accommodation category.
"These awards differ from others in that the judging is shared equally between the written submission and an assessment by a mystery guest," Ms Freeman said.
"We are delighted that Freeman on Ford was one of only two finalists named in the 5 Star Hosted Accommodation category, nationally and that we represented not only Beechworth, but the whole state," she said.
Freeman on Ford Bed and Breakfast has four Victorian era rooms upstairs and the new renovation features three 1930s classic rooms overlooking the new swimming pool and spa in a landscaped private garden.
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Newsletter 5 - Ocotober 2010 - Celebration Edition!
It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Freeman on Ford renovation is now complete. This includes the addition of a private swimming pool and spa, three new bedrooms, a lounge room, an extended dining room and undercover parking. We have also installed a commercial kitchen which, along with the other rooms, means we can cater for small functions and celebrations. We have worked tirelessly to... READ MORE
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National Award Finalist Beechworth Double
TWO Beechworth properties were named as finalists in the Hotel Motel Association Australia (HMAA) national awards which were presented in Queensland on Friday night – and both were the only Victorian finalists in their respective categories.
Freeman on Ford and Lakeside Chalet owners, Heidi Freeman and Jim Didolis said they were pleased to showcase Beechworth at the HMAA's National Accommodation Industry Awards for Excellence.
"These awards differ from others in that the judging is shared equally between the written submission and an assessment by a mystery guest," Ms Freeman said.
"We are delighted that Freeman on Ford was one of only two finalists named in the 5 Star Hosted Accommodation category nationally and that we represented not only Beechworth, but the whole state," she said.
There were 11 nominations in the category.
"This is especially pleasing when we have just finished our renovation. Freeman on Ford Bed and Breakfast has four Victorian era rooms upstairs and our new renovation features two 1930s classic rooms overlooking the new swimming pool and spa in our landscaped private garden. We also extended the formal dining room and put in a commercial kitchen so it’s been a busy time and it was nice to be recognized at a national event such as this."
The Lakeside Chalet, in Kraus Lane, Beechworth was one of 9 finalists in the 3.5 Star Self Contained Accommodation category.
"Through these Awards, HMAA recognises the professionalism of accommodation operators and their contribution to the industry. Operators play a vital role in creating, inspiring and promoting tourism accommodation by providing the highest standards of service for their guests," said Lorraine Duffy, HMAA's Chief Executive.
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Brides of Freeman on Ford
Here you will find photographs of our beautiful brides that we cater for at Freeman on Ford... VIEW MORE
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Ovens and Murray Advertiser : Extensive Renovations
With a host of meticulous renovations and restorations taking place recently at Freeman on Ford Bed and Breakfast, Beechworth now has its first bed and breakfast with its own foyer similar to those in boutique hotels... READ MORE