Binna Burra

Binna Burra is a parcel of private land and mountain lodge within the locality of Binna Burra and surrounded by Lamington National Park in Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality in the Scenic Rim Region.[1] The lodge lies in the north-eastern corner of the Lamington Plateau in the McPherson Range, 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of Brisbane in the scenic rim hinterland of the Gold Coast. It's about 30 minute drive up the mountain from Nerang and a similar distance from Canungra. It is marketed as an ecolodge and was one of the first nature based resorts to be established in Australia.[2] In 2000, the resort was the first commercial accommodation provider to be awarded Green Globe Certification in Australia.[2] The lodge and other aspects of the built environment at Binna Burra are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as the Binna Burra Cultural Landscape.[3] In September 2019, the area was devastated by bushfires and the historic lodge was destroyed.[4] After one year of closure, the Binna Burra side of Lamington National Park reopened to the public in September 2020.[5]

This article is about the tourist lodge. For the locality, see Binna Burra, Queensland.

Binna Burra
Antarctic Beech trees, 3km from Binna Burra Mountain Lodge
General information
Opened1933
Egg Rock seen from Binna Burra
View north of Binna Burra, from the Senses Trail circuit
Ancient lava flow - Binna Burra

Binna Burra means "where the Antarctic Beech trees grow" in a local Aboriginal language.[6]

History

In 1930, Romeo Lahey and Arthur Groom were leaders in the formation of the National Parks Association of Queensland.[7] Three years later, along with many members of the NPAQ they led the formation of an unlisted public company called Queensland Holiday Resorts, with Binna Burra Lodge becoming the first such facility in their vision to provide access and accommodation adjacent to national parks.[8] From the outset the company aimed to make ecotourism and environmental protection a significant objective under the guidance of one of its founders Romeo Lahey.[8] Binna Burra remained apart from the nearby national park as the properties around were bought by the Queensland Government on an irregular basis, to extend the size of the park. In 2012, facilities were expanded with the construction of 20 modern new apartments to add to the log cabins already accommodating visitors.[2] In September 2019, the facilities of the lodge, including the original accommodation buildings, reception lounge and dining room were tragically lost in the QLD bushfires.[9] Due to road access repair work, the demolition and repair work at Binna Burra was unable to commence until well into 2020.[10] The Binna Burra campsite, Teahouse café and the Sky Lodge apartments remain undamaged from the bushfire [11] and one year after the bushfires were able to be reopened for business.[12]

Forests

The forests in the area are part of the World Heritage site, Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (formerly Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves). The name, Binna Burra, is an Aboriginal word meaning "where the beech tree grows," referring to a stand of Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus moorei) growing in the nearby rainforest, as shown in the adjacent image.

The vegetation ranges from subtropical and temperate rainforest to dry eucalypt and open heath.

Access

Binna Burra Lodge is 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) by road south from Beechmont, 27.9 kilometres (17.3 mi) by road south from Canungra, 45.3 kilometres (28.1 mi) by road south-west from Southport, and 105 kilometres (65 mi) south of Brisbane.[13]

Access to Binna Burra is from Beechmont, via a mountainous road not suitable for large caravans. In 2001, 108,551 vehicles were recorded by counters as entering Binna Burra.[14] More recently this figure has increased to around 250,000 visitors per year.[2] Following the bushfires in September 2019, the single access road into Binna Burra was cut off to the public for one year while major roadworks and cliffside scaling was undertaken by the Queensland Department for Main Roads and Transport. The road reopened in September 2020.[15]

Bushwalking

Extending away from the clearing a number of short and long walks, many of which were designed and built by Romeo Lahey during the Great Depression.[16] All of Lahey's track's have a gradient not greater than 10%. Lahey had noticed that the local dairy cows never seemed out of breath.[16] After surveying the animals paths he concluded a ratio of 1:10 for a gradient was best. These graded walking tracks lead to the upper Coomera River and numerous smaller creeks, Coomera Gorge, Coomera Falls amongst many other waterfalls. To the east is the Ship Stern Range and Dave's Creek circuit and the all-day hike along the Coomera Track. In late 2020, a Bushwalker's Bar was established inside the historic Groom's Cottage at Binna Burra.[17]

Binna Burra was featured on the third season of The Mole. An assignment involved the contestants having to travel up to Binna Burra, whilst on the way answering questions that would help them in succeeding in the assignment. Wildfire devastation inspires 'solidarity tourism' for a nationally significant heritage tourism icon.[18] One year after bushfires devastated Binna Burra Lodge, the response and recovery efforts have been acknowledged by a leading international expert in cultural tourism. Based in Boston Massachusetts (USA), Meg Pier is a highly recognized international contributor to cultural tourism.

See also

Binna Burra commits to a Reconciliation Action Plan Reflection benches at Binna Burra One year on the from 2019 bushfires Bushfire memories: Gathering stories.

References
  1. "Binna Burra – locality in the Scenic Rim Region (entry 45113)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  2. Prideaux, Bruce (2014). Rainforest Tourism, Conservation and Management: Challenges for Sustainable Development. Routledge. pp. 109–110. ISBN 1136201092. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  3. "Binna Burra Cultural Landscape (entry 601899)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. Forbes, Tom; Kane, Charmaine (11 September 2019). "Inside the devastation and heartache of razed Binna Burra lodge". ABC News. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  5. https://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/news/premier-announces-reopening-of-binna-burra-in-the-queensland-parliament/
  6. Hundloe, Tor (2015). "The Gold Coast: a snapshot". In Hundloe, Tor; McDougall, Bridgette; Page, Craig (eds.). The Gold Coast Transformed: From Wilderness to Urban Ecosystem. Csiro Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 1486303307. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  7. https://npaq.org.au/about-us/
  8. Lockwood, Michael; Graeme L. Worboys; Ashish Kothari (2006). Managing protected areas: a global guide. Earthscan. p. 501. ISBN 1844073033. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  9. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-11/queensland-bushfire-emergency-binnna-burra-lodge-gold-coast-fire/11499472
  10. https://globaleco.com.au/archive/2020/jan-2020-binna-burra-update.pdf
  11. https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/926433/Binna-Burra-case-study_FINAL-GIFT-Website.pdf
  12. "Heritage-listed Binna Burra Lodge in Gold Coast hinterland destroyed by Queensland bushfires". ABC News. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  13. Google (4 May 2020). "Brisbane to Binna Burra Lodge" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  14. Tisdell, C. Clement Allan; Clevo Wilson (2012). Nature-Based Tourism and Conservation: New Economic Insights and Case Studies. Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 178–179. ISBN 1781005168. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  15. https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/binna-burra-road-reconstruction-works
  16. Lackner, Thomas. (1989) Discovering Binna Burra on Foot. Envirobook ISBN 0-85881-088-3
  17. https://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/news/new-bushwalkers-bar-at-binna-burra-committed-to-the-international-charter-for-walking/
  18. https://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/news/wildfire-devastation-inspires-solidarity-tourism-for-a-nationally-significant-heritage-tourism-icon/

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