Bringing Christmas to Life
with Country Charm Christmas Cottage
Over its 12-year evolution, Country Charm Christmas Cottage has taken on many forms, from a humble market stall offering homeware and garden decor to a cafe renowned for its elegant high tea gatherings. But a decade and a few identity pivots later, it has built a reputation as Mackay’s one-stop Christmas hub, becoming synonymous with the festive period in the region.
Andrea Galea, the company’s founder, remembers those early days vividly. “I used to go with mum to the local markets and sell homewares and garden decor… and it all just flowed from there.”
From those market beginnings, the business found a permanent home on Matsens Road in Marian, in a quaint, family-owned cottage nestled on a working cane farm. After intense renovations, it became Country Charm Garden and Gifts—a warm, welcoming destination, known for its extensive range and popular cafe. But as the years went on, Andrea’s longstanding passion for the festive season could no longer be contained; a passion that would eventually give rise to Country Charm Christmas Cottage.
“I've always loved Christmas—I have five trees myself!” She exclaims. “Christmas was also getting bigger and bigger in Australia, and there was nothing like [the store] around.” The shift proved transformative, positioning the cottage as a festive haven offering “pretty much everything you could want for Christmas.” From glittering lanterns and trees to baubles, garlands, and a wide range of rare collectables, some of which are one in 500 worldwide, Country Charm is stacked with everything from simple decorations to limited-edition pieces.
“We try and cover everyone, every style, every taste in Christmas,” says Andrea. “Our main thing is just trying to always have a variety for people to choose from… We’re trying to give people what we couldn't find in Mackay.”
Alongside the wide range, the peaceful country surroundings provide a tranquil, scenic backdrop by day, while the cottage glows with twinkling lights during night shopping, creating the magical atmosphere that typifies Christmas.
“Our slogan is ‘creating the magic of Christmas’, and that is my aim—to make the shop as magical as possible, so that the minute they walk through the door, they can feel it.”
The cafe also remains a cornerstone of the cottage, where Andrea’s sister, Bernadine Agius, and mother, Maryann Scriha, run the show—the latter becoming locally ‘famous’ for her delightfully scrumptious scones, all made with love.
With Andrea, her sister, and mother ever-present, and her daughter Amelia helping in the shop outside school hours, Country Charm prides itself on the warm, family atmosphere it cultivates. This sense of family was also shaped by Joe Scriha, Andrea’s late father, who was a fixture at the cottage.
“He was our chief elf. He was always here,” says Andrea. “He literally sat in the coffee shop, and he would just sit there and talk to all the customers. He was like a family member to them.” His presence left a lasting mark on the spirit of the shop, helping create the welcoming environment visitors still experience today.
“The whole operation is orientated around family,” Andrea explains. “When people come here, they like that, because they feel like a part of it. We’ve always tried to make it feel that way.”
Usually open from May through Christmas each year, Country Charm Christmas Cottage has become a beloved destination for festive shopping in Mackay, where visitors can find everything from decorations to treats, all wrapped in the warmth of a family-run, magical Christmas atmosphere.
