Venue Review – White Chapel Kalbar
In February last year, a 134 year old, deconsecrated country church and Sunday school was about receive an amazing makeover. Several months later in early October, White Chapel and Black Hall Kalbar opened its doors to be a standout, elegant country venue for it’s first wedding. In a matter of a few months, it was reborn as something quite unlike most small venues.
It is a marriage of country elegance and city chic. Located around 50 minutes from Brisbane, in a historical country town called ‘Kalbar’ (about 10 minutes from Boonah) it sits in the beautiful Scenic Rim district.
The White Chapel has a stunning monochrome, all-white colour scheme, beautiful country style chandeliers and lighting which were imported from Texas in the USA. It has a secret waiting room out the back and amazing American style wainscoting timber panel work throughout.
Apart from weddings, funerals and naming’s, the chapel is a wonderful venue for a product launch, a charity event, or a special celebration. It is fully airconditioned and has a blue-tooth sound system. It can seat up to 90 people class room style and around 60 seated dining.
Outside, the magnificent gardens have large ornamental pear trees a 3-tier fountain, a 2.5 metre fairy-tale book backdrop, and many other beautiful features. It has a secret garden that then leads down to a large covered outdoor pergola , complete with outdoor fireplace and rustic chandeliers.
The old 1930’s Sunday School has been transformed into a beautiful Amish barn style venue with an all-black colour scheme aptly called ‘Black Hall’. It boasts an indoor fireplace with antler chandelier, cross backed oak chairs, long white country style tables and original timber floors with sit down seating for up to 70 people.
Next to Black Hall, is country-style rustic venue called – ‘The Barn Bar ‘–complete with pressed metal bar and ladder chandelier. The back wall is home to all the chapel and Sunday school pieces that were retained from the restoration. It is the perfect area for an outdoor drink around the wine barrel dry bars and lends itself to outdoor games such as pétanque and giant jenga.
All in all, the venue is perfect for weddings, small conferences, corporate events and even milestone birthdays. It’s offers a truly, memorable country experience, without the city rates.
What’s even better is that the venue has its own 24-seat bus to transport guests to and from local accommodation. Within 15 minutes there are 120 beds within the surrounding Scenic Rim countryside.
And, for the adventurous function organisers, The Bell tent hire company will set up a tent city across the road at the cute Kalbar showgrounds, or up at the spectacular ‘Bunyip resort’.
There is a craft brewery nearby with Drayhorse tours, hot air ballooning, gliding and chopper rides around the spectacular Scenic Rim.
If you’re looking for a venue that’s flexible, versatile and something more than just 4 plain walls, take a scenic drive out to Kalbar. You’ll discover there’s a venue quite unlike anything else.
