Reinvention in the Rainforest: Building Qii House
She didn’t plan to buy a rainforest. It started with a detour—one of many spontaneous drives along the Great Ocean Road that followed the quiet chaos of widowhood. But this time, something tugged at her more than usual. A hillside retreat, wild and worn, hidden beneath the lush Otway canopy, whispered, “This is it.”
What Heather Messenger found that day wasn’t just a property. It was a calling.
With a background in nursing and property development, Heather had always felt drawn to the healing rhythms of nature. But it wasn’t until 2007, in the depths of grief and uncertainty, that the forest offered more than calm—it offered purpose. She envisioned a sanctuary for reflection, wellness, and transformation. And just like that, the seed of Qii House Eco Meditation & Relaxation Retreat was planted.
It didn’t sprout easily. A revoked financial agreement, a global financial crisis, and a court case drained her resources and tested her resolve. But Heather was no stranger to challenge. She took control, learned to trade stocks from scratch, and generated the income needed to breathe life into the project. It required focus, courage, and an unwavering belief in the dream.
By Christmas 2016, Qii House opened its doors. Since then, she’s added forest-view tiny houses, an outdoor bathhouse, and a forest therapy trail—the first of its kind on private land in Australia. Partnering with international experts, Qii House has become a trailblazer in Forest Therapy, helping guests slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with nature in a scientifically supported way.
Today, Heather’s passion is being amplified by research. A Master’s student has been assigned to study the effects of the Zaborin Walk trail, potentially contributing to the growing body of global wellness knowledge. Heather’s story isn’t just one of survival—it’s about vision, reinvention, and creating space for others to heal, too.
“Your resilience is your humanity… to yield and not break, that is your incredible strength.”
Heather’s Reflections for Fellow Business Owners
– Trust your intuition—it knows before your logic catches up
– Build flow into your work—productivity thrives in your genius zone
– Reinvention takes grit and grace—both will be required
– Surround yourself with people who believe in the vision
– Nature has answers if you’re quiet enough to listen
From forest floor to flourishing retreat, Qii House is proof that healing can be the beginning of your greatest legacy.