This week on Superhosts Down Under, Ray and Silvia sit down with filmmaker and disability advocate Sarah Barton, the host behind two thoughtful and beautifully considered short-term rentals in Melbourne and Wye River.

Sarah has worked for decades at the intersection of film and disability rights. Long before becoming a parent to a daughter with a disability, she was already creating documentaries about access, inclusion, and the lived experiences of disabled Australians. That commitment to representation now extends into the way she designs her guest spaces — from step-free entryways to subtle accessibility features that look and feel like part of the architecture, not clinical add-ons.

Ray, Silvia, and Sarah explore the realities of hosting two very different homes: an inner-city garden flat just steps from Chapel Street, and a peaceful coastal retreat surrounded by forest along the Great Ocean Road. Their conversation covers everything from linen management systems to the mental load of running multiple bed configurations, from dealing with tank water and septic systems to ensuring guests understand safety risks like bushfire season.

They also unpack the nuance of accessibility, why “wheelchair friendly” cannot mean the same thing for every guest, and how honest communication helps set expectations long before check-in.

If you’re a host, a creative, or someone balancing meaningful personal work with the practical challenges of property management, this episode offers grounded insights, real stories, and plenty of relatable moments.

• Combining filmmaking with disability advocacy
• How her daughter’s disability deepened her understanding of inclusive design
• Creating a step-free, wheelchair-friendly coastal home without compromising aesthetics
• Why accessibility is not universal — different guests need different things
• Managing multiple linen sets, bed sizes, stains, storage, and timing
• Why she no longer accepts single-night Saturday bookings off Chapel Street
• How pricing has softened and shifted as local travel patterns change
• What hosting on tank water and septic systems requires from guests
• The importance of a reliable regional support team
• Why honest photos set better expectations than over-styled listings
• How she learned not to take mess or minor damage personally
• Moving off booking.com after a difficult experience
• Why responsiveness and clarity build trust with guests

OffChapel Retreat — Melbourne (Windsor)
https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/52710362?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

Wye Beach Retreat / Wye Forest Retreat — Wye River
https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/961291955783555513?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

Website: https://custombnb.com.au/

Instagram: @custombnb

Superhosts Down Under – Episode with Meredith Cowley (Custom BNB Hosting)

In this episode of Superhosts Down Under, Ray and Silvia sit down with Meredith Cowley, founder of Custom BNB Hosting, to explore what it really takes to build and run a short-term rental management business across Australia’s east coast.

Meredith shares her journey from frontline child protection social work to becoming a property investor and host. A stage-four breast cancer diagnosis pushed her to re-evaluate what she wanted from life, ultimately creating the space to build a business aligned with her values and lifestyle. Today, she manages a portfolio of around 35 properties across Melbourne, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay.

The conversation dives deep into co-hosting, leasing (arbitrage), guest expectations, owner psychology, and the reality of operating a 24/7 hospitality business. Meredith also explains how Custom BNB Hosting uses multiple platforms and local hosting professionals to deliver a consistent guest experience and strong returns for owners.

In this episode, we speak with Lorna Hay, a Western Australia–based superhost, business owner, and operator of multiple successful Airbnb properties across Perth, Darwin, and the Kimberley. Lorna shares how her hosting journey began when her son moved to boarding school and how it grew into a thriving, lifestyle-driven business supported by her trade services company.

Alongside Ray and Silvia, Lorna discusses remote hosting, managing cleaners, family-friendly stays, preparing homes for extreme climates, and how her background in plumbing and trades gives her a unique advantage in short-term rental management.

• Silvia’s experience with poor hosting practices in Italy and why first impressions matter
• Lorna’s transition from family needs to building a short-term rental portfolio
• How she manages Airbnb properties remotely from a remote region of Australia
• The importance of strong cleaner and co-host relationships
• Managing humidity, mold, and tropical climate challenges in Darwin
• How Airbnb provides creative fulfillment beyond traditional business
• How her plumbing business, IBAC Plumbing & Trade Services, supports her hosting
• Advice for hosts wanting to operate in the Northern Territory

• Darwin Property: airbnb.com.au/h/careycove
• IBAC Plumbing & Trade Services: www.ibacplumbingandtradeservices.com.au
• Travel Blog & Booking Info: www.deadsettravel.com.au
• Instagram: @deadsettravel

• Follow us: @superhosts_down_under
• Ray’s South Yarra Property: Airbnb link
• Silvia’s Property: Airbnb link
• North Melbourne Property: Airbnb link

Hosted by Ray Yee and Silvia, Superhosts Down Under features real stories and practical insights from Australia’s top short-term rental operators. Each episode shares lessons, experiences, and strategies to help hosts deliver exceptional stays and build successful hosting businesses.