Image: The new lodge nearing completion ahead of the shareholder event.
Almost 200 people attended the in-house shareholders preview of the new lodge and accommodation nearing completion at Mt Roberts on Tuesday 8th September 2026.
The day marked the seven year anniversary of the 2019 Black Summer bushfires that destroyed the historic lodge and cabin accommodation.
Under the guidance of the Master of Ceremonies, Tim Atherton (Chair of the Binna Burra Foundation), a Welcome to Country was conducted by Erica Eurell a Traditional Custodian from the Yugambeh Language Region of the Gold Coast.
This was followed by speaker contributions from Greg Christensen who was the Mayor of the Scenic Rim Regional Council during the black Summer bushfires; Mark Ayers a former Binna Burra staff member and First Officer of the Beechmont Rural Fire; Richard Groom and Linda Groom, a son and the daughter Arthur Groom who was a co-founder in the early 1930s of Binna Burra Lodge; Catherine McLeod the author of the book ‘Binna Burra Bell; Emeritus Professor Gordon Holden, Chair of the Lodge Design Committee; Jono Medhurst, Architect; Jill May, iQ Construct; Dave Groom, Local Artist who introduced his Woonoongoora landscape art pieces to be featured the Ubuntu Clifftop Dining Room; Tim Medhurst OAM, Project Manager; and (pre-recorded) Jankees van der Have from the Friends of Binna Burra (FoBBS) about the landscaping at the new lodge.
General Manager Louanne Bynes gave a heart-felt talk about the contributions of the management and staff over the previous turbulent seven years as the company operations dealt with the highs-and-lows of the bushfire recovery, COVID shutdowns, the impacts of the first tornado ever to hit the Hinterland the in early 2025, Cyclone Alfred as the first cyclone to hit in 50 years which caused substantial damage to Binna Burra limited supply of accommodation.
Chair of the board of Directors at Binna Burra Lodge, Steve Noakes, said it was a day of ‘reflection on loss and rebirth of a very special place.’
He acknowledged that to start this new era of Binna Burra has required many hundreds of people contributing in various ways and substantial amounts of money and that Binna Burra is a place which is on the Queensland Heritage List as a place of Cultural Heritage Significance to our State.
Commenting on some $24 million of Federal, State and Local Government support for planning and infrastructure improvements since the bushfires, Noakes said ‘…. this new era of Binna Burra places an even greater moral responsibility by this unlisted public company to Queensland and Australian tax-payers to take good care of all the built, natural and cultural assets here on the Binna Burra Cultural Landscape.’
Noakes concluded: ‘The past seven years has been a series of stories about recovery.
Now we will shift our longer-term strategic gear as the recovery story becomes the centenary story. Because if we now flip ahead seven years, in 2033 we will celebrate the people and the idea that made Binna Burra possible for 100 years.
This place has always belonged to the people who love it, and we have now set strong foundations to ensure it always will.’
Binna Burra Lodge Ltd acknowledges the substantial funding support of the Queensland Government in rebuilding a replacement lodge and accommodation within the Binna Burra Cultural Landscape.
We also acknowledge the generous support of many people and organisations, including Carolyn Vincent’s Ubuntu Foundation, the Thyne Reid Foundation, Binna Burra shareholders, and the Binna Burra Foundation (including the Friends of Binna Burra – FoBBs), as well as our dedicated staff and project teams.
Related: Historic Binna Burra Bell inspires new children’s book of hope and resilience