Luxury Kangaroo Island accommodation Southern Ocean Lodge damaged by fires
Southern Ocean Lodge, favoured by cashed up locals and tourists alike, sustained major structural damage.
One of Australia’s most prestigious luxury lodges has been forced to close following significant bushfire damage overnight.
Southern Ocean Lodge, the remote Kangaroo Island property favoured by cashed up locals and wealthy American tourists alike, has sustained major structural damage from the bushfires which have been ravaging the popular South Australian island off Adelaide for weeks.
The 21-suite Southern Ocean Lodge developed by Baillie Lodges incurred structural damage due to the bushfires late on Friday afternoon and has been closed until further notice. Guests and most lodge staff were relocated to Adelaide and the small Kangaroo Island township of Kingscote.
No guests were harmed in the bushfire which has been burning on the island since well before Christmas. Local landowners told The Weekend Australian the fires have been difficult to fight because of the island’s changing wind patterns.
In a statement Baillie Lodges said it was too early to estimate a reopening date for the multi award-winning lodge.
“We are absolutely shocked and saddened by the events,” said Baillie Lodges founders Hayley and James Baillie overnight.
“In the short to medium term we would like to take the lead in rebuilding Kangaroo Island’s tourism industry.”
Founded in 2003 Baillie Lodges struck a joint venture arrangement with US-based private equity group KSL Capital Partners in 2018 to add more lodges to its portfolio.
Baillie Lodges owns several iconic properties in Australia including Longitude 131 in the shadow of Uluru as well as Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island. It recently added to the portfolio buying the Silky Oaks lodge in North Queensland.
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