Welcome to Wee Tiny, a Creekside Haven for Couples to Slow Down

Some homes feel discovered rather than built, as though they’ve been waiting for the right pair of hands to coax them into their next life. Wee Tiny, the one-of-a-kind creekside retreat by husband-and-wife duo Palmer & Gunn, is one such place.

Nestled deep in Queensland’s Austinville Valley, where ancient rainforest spills into clear running creeks beneath the shadow of Springbrook National Park, the tiny house is the product of a decade-long dream pursued by partners Clancy Palmer and Fiona Gunn. What began in 2016 as a neglected, overlooked piece of land has since evolved into a soulful micro-homestead: a restored farmhouse they call home, a workshop space for community gatherings – and Wee Tiny, designed for guests craving calm, and a moment away from the noise. “Most people couldn’t see past what it was at the time,” Fiona recalls. “We saw potential.”

Their Wee Farm journey turns 10 this year – a milestone that feels both surreal and meaningful. “10 years feels like a huge milestone for us, mostly because the property – and our lives – are almost unrecognisable from where we began,” she says. “Reaching the 10-year mark feels very special – a reminder that with patience, hard work and heart, something once overlooked can be made beautiful again and shared.”

Wee Tiny began as an idea: a guest space where people could “truly switch off.” What emerged is a small-footprint hideaway crafted with the tactile charm of the past. Antique doors and windows, reclaimed timber, vintage fittings, aged brass, cast iron – everything here has lived another life before arriving in this one.

“We’ve always been drawn to working with pieces that already carry a sense of history,” Fiona explains. “Reclaimed materials and vintage objects bring an immediate warmth and character to a space – they tell a story in a way that new pieces simply can’t.”

Many of these older pieces, they add, “were made with a real emphasis on beauty as well as function… over time they develop a patina that adds even more depth and soul.”

This philosophy shapes the entire interior: the high-pitched ceilings, the French doors, the mottled windows, the antique clawfoot bathtub positioned as an invitation to slow the body and mind.

“In Wee Tiny, those elements help create a space that feels layered, timeless, and beautifully lived-in from the moment you arrive, rather than styled for a moment in time.”

Building a tiny house is a puzzle of proportion – every detail must work twice as hard. “The biggest challenge was the size,” says Fiona, “Every element needed to have purpose while still feeling open and uncluttered.” To maintain a sense of flow, the pair kept the layout open, prioritized vertical volume, and invited the outdoors into the experience. An outdoor kitchen sits on the veranda overlooking the creek; a cast iron fireplace anchors the deck; a wood-fired tub offers Finnish-sauna warmth under open sky.

“One of the things that makes Wee Tiny special is its size,” Fiona reflects. “Because it’s small, it encourages simplicity and allows every detail to be meaningful.” Even the challenges became joyful in hindsight. “Sometimes, the pieces we’d been hunting for months would appear at just the right time,” she says. “It reminded us that patience and persistence really pay off.”

For Fiona and Clancy, nature is more than just a backdrop. “When we created Wee Tiny, it was all about finding the perfect spot – perched right on the creek,” Fiona explains. “Even when you’re inside, the outdoors is right there, and it all just flows together.” The result is a retreat shaped by its environment: birdsong in the morning, cicadas at dusk, dappled light through gum trees, and the sound of water threading its way along the property.

Wee Tiny was built to tread lightly, “using reclaimed materials, keeping the space small and intimate, and hosting just one or two guests at a time,” she says. “Doing it at this scale means every decision counts.”

As with many shared creative projects, Wee Tiny is both a home and a mirror of Fiona and Clancy’s partnership. “Sharing the same dream and having similar tastes has made working on Wee Tiny together so much fun,” they say. “Of course, there were challenges… but overall, collaborating and seeing it come to life has been a really rewarding experience that we both treasure.”

Their advice for anyone embarking on a restoration is grounded and generous: “Be prepared for it to take longer than you think… don’t be discouraged when things don’t go exactly as you imagined… and trust your own instincts. The best spaces come from creating something you genuinely love.”

It’s no surprise that Wee Tiny has quietly become a destination for elopements and romantic getaways. Everything about it – from the fireplace to the hot tub to the absence of screens – invites intimacy. “Wee Tiny was always designed as a small, intimate space where people could slow down and enjoy time together,” says Fiona. Offering elopements “felt like a natural extension of that.”

For Fiona and Clancy personally, romance itself is simple, elemental, and time-based: “To me, romance is really about connection and time together… when you slow down and make room for each other, it’s in those moments – the quiet chats, the shared laughter, the simple presence of one another – that romance feels most meaningful.”

What began as a rundown, forgotten property is now a living, breathing tapestry of restoration – the farmhouse they rebuilt, the shed transformed into a workshop space, and the tiny house that invites strangers to slow down beside a creek.

“Even now, it still feels like a dream that continues to grow and evolve alongside us.”

Want to win a two-night stay at Wee Tiny? Follow @bed.threads and @palmerandgunn on Instagram and find out how at 7am on Valentine’s Day.