One Fireplace Many Personalities with BBQ & Fireplace Centre
On the Sunshine Coast, the chill of the winter nights can surprise even long-time locals. Kathy Sundstrom sparks a conversation with the people that know fireplaces best, and who understand that they offer more than warmth.
There is a misconception people often have about the Sunshine Coast, that it doesn’t get cold in winter. Sure, the days are often full of sunshine and the ocean rarely dips below 20 degrees, but nights can tell a different (freezing!) story.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the average evening temperature in July is in single digits (9 degrees) and it has been known to drop below zero! Coolum Beach reached -4.7 degrees on 21 July, 1970 and there have been reports of snow at Maleny.
On crisp winter evenings, nothing compares to the sight, smell and shared experience of sitting in front of a fire where conversations linger, phones are forgotten, and people come together.
While fire has remained a source of heat since the beginning of time, the fireplaces for our homes have evolved to suit our modern lifestyles.
Homeowners can now choose from a wide range of styles and technologies, each offering its own rhythm, mood and lifestyle promise. And after decades of helping locals warm their homes, the family behind the BBQ and Fireplace Centre have come to believe that the fireplace you choose says a lot about you and the lifestyle you are looking for.
“One fireplace can live many lives,” says Renee Bedford, who manages the Birtinya BBQ and Fireplace store alongside her husband Gavin.
“People think they are just choosing heat, but really they are choosing how they want to spend their evenings, who they want to gather with, and how much effort they want the ritual to involve.
“They are so much more than a source of heat, the fireplace is a quiet declaration of how we live, what we value, and how we invite warmth into our spaces.”
For traditionalists, nothing beats
a wood-burning fireplace. There is a romance to it that cannot be rushed. Chopping wood, building the fire, tending the flames. These are people who value ritual, nostalgia and a slower pace.
“Wood fires attract people who love tradition,” Gavin Bedford says. “They want the crackle, the smell, the whole experience. It becomes a winter routine, not just a way to stay warm.”
Gas fireplaces tend to appeal to a different kind of homeowner. With instant heat and precise control, they suit those who want comfort without complication.
“Gas is about ease,” Renee explains. “Press a button and the room warms up straight away – perfect for busy households or people who want that cosy feel without the maintenance.”
Electric fireplaces are increasingly popular with design-conscious homeowners, apartment dwellers and renovators. Sleek, flexible and surprisingly realistic, they are chosen as much for visual impact as for warmth.
“Electric fires suit people who are adaptable,” Renee says. “They might move house, renovate often, or want something that works with modern interiors. It is about style as much as function.”
Then there are ethanol fireplaces, which turn fire into art. Minimal, sculptural and often portable, they attract those who see fire as an aesthetic experience.
“Ethanol customers are usually creative types,” Gavin says. “They like clean lines, flexibility, and making a statement. It is less about heating the whole house and more about atmosphere.”
Outdoor fireplaces complete the picture, and in Noosa they are as much about connection as warmth. These are for natural hosts, the people who love long dinners, impromptu gatherings and lingering conversations under the stars.
“Outdoor fires bring people together,” Renee says. “They extend your living space and turn a backyard into a social hub, even on the coldest nights.”
Behind this understanding of lifestyles is a family business that has grown alongside the Coast itself. For more than thirty years, the BBQ and Fireplace Centre has remained hands-on and proudly family-run. Gavin and Renee manage the Birtinya store, while Brendan and Jess Bedford shape the personality of the Noosaville location.
“There is pride in knowing our customers and treating them like family,” Renee says.
“We give people the opportunity to come in and speak to someone who takes the time to understand what they are looking for and find the best solution that applies to where they live on the Sunshine Coast. We are proudly local, not a faceless online store,” Renee says.
People leave feeling confident in their choice, and excited about the moments that fireplace or barbecue will create.
Because on the Sunshine Coast, winter may be brief, but the memories made around a fire last far longer.
BURNING DESIRES
Your fireplace can say a lot about you:
• Wood-burning: perfect for traditionalists who value ritual, nostalgia.
• Gas: convenient and controlled for those who think comfort should be effortless.
• Electric: design-forward, apartment-friendly for the adaptable and design-conscious.
• Ethanol: artistic, minimal, nomadic for those who see fire as art
• Outdoor fireplaces: you are a natural host who values connection and nature.
