Mayor John Brent opened the new $12-million Sky Lodges development at Binna Burra this month, marking a new direction for the historic hinterland retreat.
The opening comes nearly 80 years after tourism pioneers Arthur Groom and Romeo Lahey first invited guests to stay at their Binna Burra Lodge.
Members from the Groom and Lahey family attended the opening, as did LNP member for Beaduesert Jon Krause and Yugambeh Aboriginal Elder Aunty Ruby Rose.
The Sky Lodges development remains true to the founder’s original vision to introduce visitors to the wonders of the Lamington National Park, however it makes that introduction in a very modern way.
Guest comfort was upper-most on the minds of the Binna Burra board and the project architects, dm2 architecture when they designed the 20 Sky Lodges, which offer a stylish and contemporary alternative to Binna Burra’s traditional cabins.
Perched on the side of a mountain with stunning north-facing views across Coomera and Numinbah Valleys, the Sky Lodges are fully self-contained and have been finished to the highest of standards.
Ann Neal, the granddaughter of Romeo Lahey is the only surviving member of the first Christmas Camp, held by Romeo and Arthur in 1933. She joined Arthur Groom’s son Richard at the Sky Lodges opening. About 220 people attended the opening, before enjoying lunch on the Coomera Terrace. (more…)
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Posts Tagged ‘Romeo Lahey’
Mayor opens new Binna Burra Sky Lodges
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
Binna Burra Sky Lodges offer new level of luxury
Monday, March 5th, 2012
The new luxury Binna Burra Sky Lodges are now complete and taking guests.
The 20 self-contained luxury units have been built alongside the Binna Burra Mountain Lodge in the Lamington National Park.
They offer views north over the Coomera and Numinbah Valleys and can be rented as one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Project Manager Tim Medhurst says the project has been built on the only available pocket of freehold land in the 20,600ha World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park.
“We knew we would only get one chance at this,” says Mr Medhurst.
“Binna Burra Mountain Lodge is a tourism icon, it’s been operating for 75 years. We wanted the new Sky Lodges to retain the look and feel of the Binna Burra Lodge, while offering modern day comforts and conveniences.
“We wanted to build something that suited both the weekend holiday and family market and the mid-week corporate, group market.”
The 20 new Sky Lodges feature timber milled from trees which stood on the building site, stone from a local quarry and natural earthy tones. The design by Brisbane firm dm2architecture, captures the stunning views over the Coomera and Numinbah Valleys. The design is both environmentally-sensitive and energy efficient.
Solar panels generate electricity for the property and a large underground water tank catches the roofwater which is diverted back for use in the toilets and gardens.
The Sky Lodges are located just metres from the original heritage Mountain Lodge and will be managed by BBL.
The Sky Lodges opened to the public on February 1 and bookings since then have been strong.
Binna Burra Mountain Lodge was first developed by tourism pioneers Arthur Groom and Romeo Lahey in the early 1930s, when they offered month-long holiday camps to city residents keen to enjoy the natural wonders of the National Park. Relatives of the men remain involved in BBL today.