Binna Burra lodge reopens after seven year rebuild following bushfire

Binna Burra Lodge has reopened to overnight guests in the Gold Coast hinterland of Australia after a seven year reconstruction period.

The heritage listed site was destroyed in September 2019 when bushfires swept through Lamington National Park. The fire consumed 6,000 hectares of rainforest and reduced the lodge and 11 nearby homes to ashes.

Chairman Steve Noakes said the lodge serves as a place for intergenerational connections and that the team remained committed to rebuilding the landmark despite setbacks from a pandemic and a cyclone. The new facility uses a different design than the original timber structure to withstand future disasters. Builders used concrete structures wrapped in timber facades so that the basic infrastructure remains intact even if a fire occurs.

Architect Eldon Bottcher said that building design is only one part of a broader safety strategy. The plan includes managing surrounding vegetation, ensuring firefighters can access the site, and providing a dedicated water supply for emergency services.