About Us
OUR STORY
Two Australians. One dream. A 17th-century château on the banks of the Dordogne - and the journey that brought them here.
From Sydney & Biloela
to the Banks of the Dordogne
PETER & LINDA
Peter and Linda were both born in Australia — but their beginnings couldn't have been more different.
Peter is a city boy from Sydney. He grew up with rugby, a love of teamwork, and the energy of a big, fast-moving place. Linda's early years were shaped by wide open space: she spent her childhood on a cattle property in Biloela, then moved with her family to Bribie Island, where she became a surf lifesaver and watched rugby league.
Those two worlds - city and country, structured and wild, practical and adventurous - still show up in their personalities today. And, as you'll see, it's exactly what makes them such a strong team.
They met in Sydney at bootcamp after Linda moved there in her late twenties. It took Peter four years to ask out the boxing-glove-wearing whirlwind who had caught his attention - and he's been quietly amazed by her energy ever since.
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They married in December 2011 and moved to Switzerland in January 2012 with a plan: five years in Europe, five years in Asia, and back to Australia within ten. But Europe had other ideas. After two years, they realised they'd fallen in love with life here - and what began as a five-year chapter turned into a much bigger dream.
For six years they searched for the right place to build something together: first the country, then the region, then the project. By October 2017, one decision was clear - it would be a château in France, in the Bordeaux region.
In 2018 they searched mostly online, then from November 2018 they began travelling to Bordeaux one weekend each month to view properties and understand the area. During one of those online searches, in January 2019, they first saw what would eventually become Château Destinée.
For Linda, it was instantly perfect. Peter worried it might be too large for their first big project. They kept looking - but Linda kept being drawn back.
"For Linda, it was instantly perfect. Peter worried it might be too large for their first big project. They kept looking - but Linda kept being drawn back."
Then came the near-misses. When they finally decided to view the château, it went under offer. In June 2019 they learned it was back on the market - only for it to be under offer again when they returned in August. By September 2019, they came to Bordeaux for twelve days, determined to find their future. During that trip, the château returned to the market once more.
This time, they finally stepped inside. They fell in love, made an offer, and discovered one more twist: as a condition of sale, the property needed to be legally renamed.
How a Château Gets Its Name
THE NAME
So how do you name a château? It turns out there aren't many rules - but there is a lot of meaning.
As they began telling friends and family the story of the repeated near-misses and perfect timing, one word kept surfacing: fate. It felt as though the château had waited for them.
At the same time, Linda was realising something personal too. After spending her twenties, thirties, and forties running from the idea of being a "country girl," she was returning — happily — to life in the countryside.
The cattle property where she grew up had been named by her parents: Destiny Station. And when they looked for a name that captured what this place felt like — their shared destiny — the translation into French was almost identical. A simple change from a "y" to two "e"s, and the name arrived.
"It felt as though the château had waited for them."
THE STORY OF CHÂTEAU DESTINÉE
Two Strengths. One Vision.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE DREAM
Today, Peter and Linda still bring very different strengths to the same vision. They're clear on each other's roles, and they believe their differences are what make the whole stronger.
Peter
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Peter has restored cars, done building work, worked as a chef, and managed his own businesses. He is perfectly at home overseeing the operational backbone of the château.
HEAD OF MAINTANANCE
BEVERAGES
PURCHASING
LOGISTICS
Linda
BILOELA, AUSTRALIA
Linda leads the guest experience and the details that make every stay or celebration feel effortless - from the first enquiry to the final farewell, including her all-important role as Wedding Planner.
GUEST EXPERIENCE
WEDDING PLANNER
MARKETING
HOUSEKEEPING
BACK OFFICE
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That team is at the heart of what Peter and Linda love most about this life. Linda never felt the château was "too big," because she knew they would thrive by building something together — with people around them, shared purpose, and a friendly atmosphere that feels like family.
And that's what Château Destinée is today: a historic home restored with care, brought to life by a team, and shaped by two Australians whose different beginnings somehow led them to the same place — right here, by the river, in Bordeaux.
Support Châtea Destinée
BE PART OF THE STORY
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Crowdfunding is Now Open
Restoring a 17th-century château takes passion, time — and a community of believers. We are delighted to share that Château Destinée now has an active crowdfunding campaign on OnParticipe, France's leading civic crowdfunding platform.
Whether you'd like to contribute to the next chapter of our restoration, or simply cheer us on, we'd love to have you as part of the journey. Every contribution, large or small, helps bring another corner of this magnificent place back to life.
Renovation Stories
BEHIND THE SCENES
Bringing a 17th-century château back to life takes years, courage, and a very long to-do list. From rewiring the electrics to restoring the wisteria arbour, every corner of Château Destinée has a story. Explore them below - each one a chapter in the making of this place.