Northshore Travel will mark an impressive milestone this year with the Sydney suburban business set to celebrate in style with a client high tea on 12 March 2025 – 32 years after the Gordon travel agency was established.
Owner Samantha Young started Northshore Travel as a savvy 25-year-old in March 1993 with Nicole Froissard, who then retired five years later.
Deborah Moffat joined the agency in 1998 and was the co-owner for 25 years, forming an integral part of the travel business as she also eyes retirement this year.
Meanwhile, Young also celebrates 40 years in the travel sector in 2025, starting as a consultant with Thomas Cook, which inspired her passion and love for the industry.
“There is such a special joy in helping people and witnessing their happiness and excitement when coming in to plan their holidays all over the world, especially when they returned to talk about their adventures,” she said.
From startup to success
Young and her then-colleague Froissard decided to open their own agency, each contributing $10,000 to establish Northshore Travel in Gordon.
“At the time, it wasn’t hard to do – I was still living at home, so I was very lucky,” she said. “We didn’t earn a wage for the first six months and then we gradually started making money.”
In 1993, the travel industry was a whole different landscape. Young recalls using big books to look up hotels around the world and then having to call and book directly, consulting train timetables for Europe and US rail holidays and using fax machines.
“It is now so much easier to travel with so many more airlines flying to Australia and internationally,” she said.
“Cruising has also been a massive transformation, from 7.5 million travellers in 1993 to 37.1 million in 2025.
“And the internet was a major change for booking travel, contacting suppliers and just looking up where to go and what to do,” Young added.
A member of Alatus and a Cruiseco specialist, the award-winning agency has also achieved accolades along the way, including winning Specialised Retail Business in the 2024 and 2018 North Shore Local Business Awards.
A milestone and more to come
Reflecting on Northshore Travel’s 32-year anniversary, Young said the longevity itself means the most to her and the team.
“I never thought I would still be enjoying what I do,” she said.
“Our staff has been amazing – across the 32 years, most have stayed for over 10 years with 12 staff members during that time – and our clients are so much fun and travel to so many interesting places.
“We have all been to some amazing parts of the world and have become travel experts in most major and interesting destinations.
“We’re looking forward to doing what we love and travelling the world to discover even more,” Young said.
