Index: src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/maven/BrokerMojo.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/maven/BrokerMojo.java	(revision 784679)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/maven/BrokerMojo.java	(working copy)
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-
+import java.io.File;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.BrokerFactory;
@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@
     private String configUri;
 
     /**
+     * A reference to a configuration file.
+     *
+     * @parameter expression="${configFile}"
+     *            default-value=null
+     * @required
+     *
+     */
+    private String configFile;
+    /**
      * Indicates whether to fork the broker, useful for integration tests.
      * 
      * @parameter expression="${fork}" default-value="false"
@@ -85,9 +94,11 @@
     public void execute() throws MojoExecutionException {
         try {
             setSystemProperties();
-            getLog().info("Loading broker configUri: " + configUri);
 
-            final BrokerService broker = BrokerFactory.createBroker(configUri);
+            String config = getBrokerConfiguration();
+            getLog().info("Loading broker configUri: " + config);
+
+            final BrokerService broker = BrokerFactory.createBroker(config);
             if (fork) {
                 new Thread(new Runnable() {
                     public void run() {
@@ -141,6 +152,20 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Return a valid configuration String for the broker.
+     *
+     * @return the configuration URI for the broker.
+     */
+    protected String getBrokerConfiguration() {
+        if (configFile != null) {
+            File conf = new File(configFile);
+            return "xbean:" + conf.toURI();
+        } else {
+            return configUri;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Set system properties
      */
     protected void setSystemProperties() {