The Sweet By & By is a space where stories quietly intertwine with carefully considered details, offering a retreat that feels both familiar and unexpectedly special. 

We are Angela and Ehren Lyons and our story began as childhood friends, evolved through young marriage, family and flourishes here decades later as creative collaborators on this unique project. 

Our philosophy is rooted in resourcefulness and intention; we believe in making the most of what we have, with every element chosen for a reason. Careful to honour the 1880s church building we gently added rather than forcing our design ideas into the space, it was important not to lose the chronicle of St Andrews. 

You’ll find echoes of our story here too: an eye for detail honed during our time running a vintage store; an appreciation for art in context cultivated while both working in the arts and; inspiration from our travels around the world. Angela's background - with a BA in Visual Arts with a major in Photography gently weaves itself into The Sweet By & By, nurturing the play of light throughout the old church building subtly influencing the visual narrative.

In 2019 we renovated the Sugar Pine Cabin  with great care, only to see it lost to the Black Summer bushfires. Our very first guests were evacuated on their second night, and the cabin was reduced to a pile of ash and melted ribbons of glass. The fires were followed by COVID-19. Angela, working in the travel industry at the time, found herself in Singapore with a tour group bound for India when international borders abruptly closed. In the urgency of supporting stranded clients, our shared desire to create a place of true comfort and connection took root. Those back-to-back crises, fire and pandemic, only deepened our resolve to rebuild. We wanted to create a space where thoughtful details and quiet pleasures could offer something lasting, something that mattered.

During the still moments of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Angela began a micro-flower farm, a quiet act of care that now brings guests the simple pleasure of fresh seasonal blooms. Ehren's interest in vintage motorcycles and skateboarding with his young son brings a grounded creativity and hands-on craftsmanship, giving a balance to the prettiness of the Sweet By & By with a warmth and rugged comfort. Ehren built the Sweet By & By bed from the original church pews, now a welcome place to lay a weary head, layered with luxurious linens and plump pillows.

We never set out to create a standard stay. What we envisioned was something more. We wanted to offer more than somewhere to sleep in Tumbarumba, to create a destination, a feeling, a memory, a gentle escape into a world where simple luxuries are savoured, and quiet wonder is encouraged. The Sweet By & By is our offering of these thoughtful touches, it is an expression of our life’s journey, our varied work styles, and our hope that the thoughtfulness and intention we invested are palpable, offering each guest a uniquely resonant experience filled with joy.

xo Angela & Ehren.