About Us | Meet Steve & Linley from Visit Kalbarri
Our story
The Story of VisitKalbarri.au
A Kalbarri passion project, built with heart and purpose — meet the couple behind the keyboard
G’day, I’m Steve — and VisitKalbarri.au is more than just a website. It started during a tough chapter in our lives. Last year, I found myself off work for eight weeks. While I couldn’t contribute physically to our main business, Murchison Laundry Services, I wanted to find a way to still support it — and more importantly, support my wife Linley, who kept the whole thing running with the help of our amazing staff (all of whom are sadly now unemployed).
That’s when the idea for Visit Kalbarri was born.
I figured if I could create a site that helped bring more bookings to our laundry customers — the holiday homes around Kalbarri — then maybe I could give something back while I was stuck on the sidelines.
Building this site, piece by piece, became my therapy. I wasn’t just sitting around — I was learning, creating, and doing something that gave me purpose. No web team, no hired help — just me, one section at a time.
This site is my way of saying thanks to Linley, who held the fort when I couldn’t, and giving a little love back to the town that’s given us so much. If it helps a few people find their way to Kalbarri and enjoy the magic here, then it’s done its job.
About Us: A Life Built in Kalbarri
A Kalbarri passion project, built with heart and purpose — meet the couple behind the keyboard
We were just in our early thirties when we became the youngest holiday property managers in Kalbarri, taking on a small coastal resort called Kalbarri Reef Villas in 1996.
Over the next 16 and a half years, we didn’t just manage the place — we became part of its heartbeat. Along the way, we bought two of the villas ourselves and, in 2010, expanded our commitment to the town by purchasing Murchison Laundry Services.
By 2013, we stepped away from Reef Villas and moved into our home — the same one that would later become Starfish Retreat in 2016 after our son moved to Perth. In 2022, we added Kalbarri Getaway to our journey, managing it until 2024 when Steve’s health took a temporary hit and we chose to scale back.
These days, Starfish Retreat stands as Kalbarri’s most stayed-at Airbnb, with over 550 reviews and counting.
It’s more than just a holiday home — it reflects everything we’ve learned about creating unforgettable guest experiences.
That passion and consistency led to Steve being personally invited to join Airbnb’s exclusive Host Advisory Program — an honour reserved for a select few hosts who consistently go above and beyond. You can’t apply for it — you’re chosen.
We’re still here, living and breathing Kalbarri — not just as locals, but as a couple who made a conscious decision nearly three decades ago to build a life in this coastal paradise.
From the early days with a toddler on our hip to running businesses that support the town and its visitors, it’s been a journey built on love, resilience, and a genuine care for people.
If you’re a property owner in Kalbarri looking for someone who knows how to make a home stand out, not just sit on a list, Steve is available to manage select properties. With deep local roots, a heart-first approach, and a sharp eye for guest experience, he’ll treat your guests like family — and your property like it’s his own.
If you’d like to chat about Kalbarri, book Starfish Retreat, or explore property hosting options — feel free to get in touch with us here. We’d love to hear from you.
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