On the rebound: Kangaroo Island luxury lodge to be rebuilt

The redevelopment of the luxury $2500-a-night Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island has begun with expectations the lodge could re-open by mid-2023.

The Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island was destroyed in the 2020 fires. Picture: Mark Goldstein

In a major boost for South Australia’s tourism industry, the redevelopment of the luxury $2500-a-night Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island – once a favourite bolthole for cashed-up Australians, North Americans and Europeans – has begun with expectations the lodge could re-open by mid-2023.

But there will be some changes to the design of the award-winning lodge, which was burnt down during Kangaroo Island’s bushfires, with the addition of a new four-bedroom owner’s cottage with dual key access as well as a complete restyle of its 23 rooms.

“It is in pre-construction final planning stage and we hope to start construction later this year,” Baillie Lodges co-owner James Baillie said this week.

Positioned off the tiny South Australian township of Cape Jervis, much of Kangaroo Island was destroyed by bushfires last year, but the island’s economy is rebounding strongly, with plans for the construction of at least three luxurious boutique resorts by three separate owners as appetite for regional tourism venues booms.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia. Picture: Luxury Lodges of Australia

The most ambitious project, however, is the redevelopment of Southern Ocean Lodge, which was destroyed as the bushfires that had raged across Kangaroo Island converged on it from three sides.

All that was left was the lodge’s staff quarters, with the rest of the infrastructure near scenic Hanson Bay so badly damaged it was later demolished.

Mr Baillie said the lodge was being redesigned by its award-winning original architect Max Pritchard in the spirit of the great ultra-luxury New Zealand lodges. Among the new inclusions is a new day spa with hot and cold plunge pools. “All the public rooms are being updated and all the past guests want to be there on the opening day,” he said.

The initial lodge, now owned by Colorado-based KSL Capital Partners as well as the Baillies, was designed 15 years ago and opened in 2008 – hence the need for ­redesign work.

The Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island destroyed by bushfire. Picture: supplied

Mr Baillie said there were exciting ‘‘product enhancements’’ and the South Australian government had been ‘‘incredibly supportive’’ by fast-tracking South­ern Ocean Lodge’s comeback.

He said the ‘‘trickle-down ­effect’’ from a product like Southern Ocean Lodge was not to be underestimated, as it boosted local tourism and transport operators on the wilderness island.