Award-winning hinterland accommodation rebuild begins
Work is set to commence on the rebuild of one of Queensland’s historic tourist destinations with the first sod turned at Binna Burra Lodge.
Binna Burra Lodge received $18 million under the Regional Tourism Recovery Program (RTRP) to support the reconstruction of the Binna Burra Lodge and 36 of the 42 cabins lost in the 2019 bushfires.
The bushfires destroyed the Binna Burra Lodge including the heritage-listed cabins and damage to one of the Sky Lodges.
Binna Burra Chair, Board of Directors Steve Noakes said without the funding the rebuild of the new lodge and accommodation could have been some decades away.
“This is the most significant funding Binna Burra has received from any public or private sector source in its 90-year history,” he said.
“Now, this piece of Queensland’s heritage will be restored.”
Mr Noakes said Binna Burra had been a pioneering ecotourism location for almost 100 years.
“Binna Burra has introduced thousands of primary, secondary and tertiary education students and researchers, as well as the general public to the wonder of Queensland’s natural environment,” he said.
“Increased public awareness about Queensland’s rainforest biodiversity is critical to resourcing the effective management of this World Heritage location listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.”
During planning and construction, it is estimated 88 full time equivalent jobs will be created and a further 70 full time equivalent jobs created ongoing.
The rebuild is expected to increase visitation by 25,000 overnight and 25,000 daytrip visitors per year and generate more than $10.8 million in overnight visitor expenditure per year once fully operational.
Binna Burra Lodge, including car parking, toilet and shower facilities, food and beverage outlets, camping, first aid and other accommodation provides services for approximately 300,000 visitors annually.
Completion and opening of the Binna Burra Lodge rebuild and cabins, to be constructed by locally sourced suppliers and supporting the regional economy, is anticipated in 2025.
RTRP funding is part of a package of initiatives supporting the delivery of the Towards Tourism 2032 strategy.