Daylesford Country Retreats (DCR), one of the region’s most highly regarded short-term rental management businesses, has joined Hometime, voted Australia’s best short-term rental management company in 2026.
Founded nine years ago by Brendan Hutchison and Troy Daff, Daylesford Country Retreats is widely respected for its deep relationships with homeowners, guests, and local businesses across Daylesford, underpinned by outstanding service quality, sitting at 4.85/5 stars across nearly 7,000 reviews.
According to co-founders Brendan and Troy, the decision was made with the local community firmly in mind, with Hometime being a natural fit due to its established presence in key tourism towns around the country:
“It’s a really big decision for us. We live here and many of our owners are our friends. So it was very important to find the right business that would carry on the Daylesford Country Retreats legacy," says Brendan Hutchison.
“We’ve known Billy and Alvan for many years, operating alongside them in the industry, and they are by far the most sophisticated operators in the market. We feel as though the business, our owners and our amazing team are in safe hands.”, adds Troy Daff.
Billy Crock, co-founder of Hometime, said the partnership reflects Hometime’s philosophy of supporting exceptional local operators:
“Hometime is fundamentally about quality and service. Our philosophy is to unlock more for our owners, guests, our people, and the communities in which we operate. We do this by working with the best local teams, sharing best practices and streamlining operations so they can maximise time with owners and guests.
We are thrilled to join Brendan and Troy, and we think Daylesford Country Retreats is a perfect example of a great local business providing a high level of service to its community.”
Alvan Aiau Yong, Chief Operating Officer of Hometime, highlighted the strength of the local market and team:
"Daylesford is an incredible town and a highly attractive tourism market with strong year-round demand from domestic travellers. We’ve been very impressed by the DCR team and the deep relationships they have with their owners and local businesses. This is exactly what we look for in a partner.
We’re excited to welcome the DCR team into the Hometime family and to support them in strengthening what is already an exceptional service."
Tourism is a cornerstone of the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges, generating approximately $780 million in direct expenditure from 3 million visitors in 2022, including more than 886,000 overnight stays. The visitor economy in the region also supports one in seven local jobs, underscoring the importance of high-quality accommodation providers to the region.
The partnership between DCR and Hometime ensures that homeowners and guests alike will continue to receive the same care and hands-on approach they have come to rely on, now with the tools and scale that Hometime brings. This includes additional behind-the-scenes support to continue delivering outstanding experiences in one of Victoria’s most iconic tourism destinations.
The existing DCR team will remain in place with the added operational and strategic support of our Melbourne-based Hometime team, led by newly-appointed general manager Samantha Fray and new operations manager Jessica Walsh. Brendan and Troy will continue working in the business during the transition period.
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