TAMBORINE Mountain is getting its very first laundromat, with Tamborine Tumbler Laundromat set to open its doors in early to mid-July at Shop 9, 9–13 Main Western Road.
Owned and operated by local residents Scott Carter and Sharon McKeown, the new facility is designed to meet the practical needs of locals and businesses, from rainy-day laundry backlogs to high-turnover loads for accommodation providers.
“There was a real gap on the mountain,” Mr Carter said.
“I Googled laundromats here and realised there weren’t any, so it was a no-brainer. Why should people have to drive down the mountain just to get their sheets dry?”
Tamborine Tumbler will feature seven commercial-grade washing machines ranging from 9kg to 21kg capacities and eight dryers, including two massive 34kg units—perfect for doonas, towels, and other bulky items.
“These dryers are the biggest you’ll see,” Mr Carter said.
“We’ve made it as user-friendly as possible with clear load markings, so people get an optimal dry every time.”
Customers can pay via coins, tap-and-go, or through a kiosk using the modern Tangerpay system, which even sends a text alert when your wash is nearly done.
“We’re also using an automatic detergent injection system on most machines which will be non-allergenic and simple,” Mr Carter said.
“But we’ve kept a couple of machines for those who want to bring their own.”
The laundromat will be powered by an off-grid bore water system and include a backup generator for weather-related power outages, something Mr Carter said was crucial given the mountain’s storm-prone conditions.
“I wanted to make sure we were self-sufficient,” he said.
“This community often gets overlooked during disasters, and I didn’t want this service to be one of those that goes offline.”
Operating from 6am to 10pm daily once open, the facility will also include CCTV, remote machine troubleshooting, and full support during the early months of operation.
“I’ll be here most days to help people get familiar with it,” Mr Carter said.
“So come on down when we’re open and introduce yourselves. I cannot wait to be a part of this great community”
