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Old Scholar Business Shout-Out - Little Land
Welcome to our segment, Old Scholars Business Shout-Out – where we shine a spotlight on the incredible ventures run by our former students! From start-ups to side hustles and everything in between, this series is all about celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of the St Mark’s alumni community and encouraging everyone to support local, support each other, and stay connected.
From the time Chevon Semmens (Brooks, Class of 2003) was little, she imagined a life spent sparking joy, play and learning for children — even as her career led her into branding, advertising and marketing. Volunteering with Radio Lollipop kept that early passion alive, but it wasn’t until becoming a mum in 2016 that everything shifted. A year later, she stumbled across a unique role-play concept for kids: a miniature world where imagination leads the way. It was the perfect blend of heart and skill — a chance to work with children, bring her business know-how to life, and create the flexibility her growing family needed. Today, as a mum of three energetic boys, she’s built a thriving business where play and learning sit at the centre of everything.
Tell us about your business – what do you do and what inspired you to start it?
As a little girl, I dreamed of working with children - creating moments that spark play and learning. I spent more than 10 years in branding, advertising and marketing, while volunteering with Radio Lollipop at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in my spare time. In 2016, I became a mum to my first little boy, Zack, and everything shifted. I started imagining a new path - one that aligned with my values, my family, and the kind of work that truly lit me up. In early 2017, I came across a unique role-play concept for children: a miniature world designed just for them. It felt like the perfect blend - a way to work with children, use my business and marketing skills, and take on the challenge of running a small business, all while creating a little more flexibility in my life as a mum. I'm now a Mum to three boys, and life couldn't be more full of play and learning!
Can you share a key moment or breakthrough that helped shape your journey?
We opened in 2019 with incredible momentum - fully booked for months. Then, as spring arrived, we hit our first slower season, and it pushed me to rethink how we approached the year as a whole. Just nine months after opening, the global pandemic hit. As strange as it sounds, it became a turning point. It forced me to pause, reassess, and rebuild. I realised how much I wanted to be present as a mum, and I used that time to create systems and processes so Little Land could run smoothly without me needing to be there every day. We came out of that period smarter, more resilient, and more profitable - with a business built on the lessons of our first big year
What sets your business apart from others in your industry?
At Little Land, our focus is on delivering a high-quality, engaging play environment that genuinely inspires play and learning. Our play town wasn’t created alone - it was shaped alongside a team of experts, including paediatric speech pathologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, early childhood educators and specialists in additional needs. Every space, prop and scenario has an intention behind it. We design for little learners, while also providing meaningful extensions and challenges for older children. It’s play with purpose - and that has always set us apart.
What’s one piece of advice that’s really stuck with you throughout your business journey?
It’s a cliché for a reason: stay in your own lane. That mindset has helped us stay focused on continually improving Little Land rather than comparing ourselves to what everyone else is doing. It keeps us grounded in our mission - high-quality play and learning - and allows us to grow with clarity and confidence.
Do you have a special offer, product, or service you'd love our Old Scholars' community to know about?
Yes! We'd love to share our play town with the Old Scholars' community. You can use the code OLDSCHOLARS15 for 15% off Little Land play town bookings as well as 15% off Big Party exclusive hire bookings. Valid until 31 March 2026 (maximum discount $100).
A little more info:
Little Land’s play town offers a scaled-down version of the real world, inspiring your child to learn through role-play!
Perth’s BIGGEST play town offers 18 play spaces to explore - including our recent play town additions of the LL Post office, Taco Time food stand, Pizza Bar and Fire Station. PLUS all the usual play town favourites – the Little Growers Market, Busy Beans cafe, home corner, School, Doctors, Vet and Blocks Construction – the fun is in the exploring!
Designed by experts, for children up to approx. 8-years, play sessions are 90 minutes with sessions at 9am | 11am | 1pm plus 3pm sessions added for Fridays/Saturdays and during the school holidays!
Our town is also available for excursions and group bookings, with Sunday options available for exclusive hire. See the contact details below for more info: