Binna Burra Cultural Landscape facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Binna Burra Cultural Landscape |
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Binna Burra Mountain Lodge (2009)
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| Location | Binna Burra Road, Binna Burra, Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1934 - c. 1980 |
| Official name: Binna Burra Cultural Landscape | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 31 December 2002 |
| Reference no. | 601899 |
| Significant period | 1934-1980 (fabric) 1934-ongoing (historical) |
| Significant components | lodge, well, memorial - wall, pump house, cabin/s, plantings - exotic, terracing, machinery/plant/equipment - recreation/entertainment, natural landscape, garden - native, residential accommodation - housing, trees of social, historic or special significance, hide (wildlife observation), track, engine/generator shed/room / power supply, machinery/plant/equipment - utilities - water supply |
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The Binna Burra Cultural Landscape is a special holiday resort in Binna Burra, Queensland, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place. Building started around 1934 and continued until the 1980s. Sadly, some of its historic buildings were damaged or destroyed by bushfires in September 2019.
How Binna Burra Began
In 1930, two men, Romeo Lahey and Arthur Groom, met and decided to work together to protect nature. Romeo Lahey had already helped create Lamington National Park in 1915. They formed the National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ), the first of its kind in Australia.
Both men believed in having places for people to stay near national parks, especially Lamington. So, they decided to create a holiday resort. In 1933, they, along with four others, started a company called Queensland Holiday Resorts Ltd. Their goal was to offer tourist places in beautiful natural areas and help protect them.
Early Camping Adventures
Because money was tight during the Great Depression, they decided to promote the company by organizing camps at Binna Burra. The first camp was held over Christmas in 1933. Guests stayed in tents and enjoyed guided trips into the National Park. It cost five shillings a day.
The camp was so popular that they increased the number of guests from 40 to 80. A man named Walter Muller, known as "Old Bill," helped carry luggage. Despite a big storm over Boxing Day, the campers loved it so much they extended their stay. During this first camp, Romeo Lahey planted a hoop pine tree as a Christmas tree, a tradition repeated 50 years later.
Building the Lodge and Flying Fox
In 1934, the company officially started. Soon after, they built a "flying fox," which was like a big cable system. It used a huge wheel and a draughthorse to pull a heavy cable. This cable carried luggage up a steep slope, about 150 meters high. It was a clever way to get supplies to the lodge before a proper road existed. The flying fox ran until 1947 when a road was finally built.
Romeo Lahey bought an old boarding house from Canungra, took it apart, and brought it to Binna Burra by packhorse. This building became the main dining and recreation room, and today it's the reception area. By Easter 1934, the first guest hut was almost ready. It had walls made of tallow-wood slabs and a roof of stringybark shingles.
Building was tough because most supplies had to be carried up the mountain. But by late 1934, the lodge had a dining room, kitchen, staff rooms, and one guest cabin. By 1939, there was enough cabin space for 54 people. Romeo Lahey designed the slab huts to be cheap and to fit in with the natural environment, using local materials.
Arthur Groom's Cottage and the Sawmill
In 1935, Arthur Groom built his own home near the lodge. After his death in 1953, his cottage was mainly used for staff until 1980.
A sawmill was also built to cut timber for firewood to heat water for the lodge. It operated in the early 1950s. During this time, two more slab cabins were built. The sawmill is now being restored to help visitors learn about its history.
Special Gardens and Memorials
In the early days, about half a hectare was cleared for a vegetable garden to feed lodge guests. There was also an area called Bellbird Clearing, now used for ropes courses and other activities.
In 1957, a memorial was built for Arthur Groom. It's a basalt stone wall with a rosewood seat and a brass plaque. It sits near where his original home was, overlooking a creek and valley.
One of the special things about Binna Burra is the "Friends of Binna Burra" (FOBBs). These are loyal guests who volunteer their time to help improve the site. For example, Winifred Bristow, a guest since 1940, spent over 40 years creating a beautiful native garden between the cabins. She received special recognition for her hard work.
Learning and Play at Binna Burra
In 1980, Arthur Groom's old house became the Environmental Study Centre. This center, opened in 1977, provides facilities for school camps. It helps children learn about the national park.
In 1997, a unique adventure playground was built. It was designed to help children connect with nature. The playground has different areas, like a sensory path for younger kids and a "predator-and-prey" area for older ones. There's even a "nutrients maze" where kids pretend to be nutrients traveling through a tree!
Binna Burra in Art and Photography
Binna Burra's beautiful scenery has inspired many artists, writers, and photographers. Famous poet Rodney Hall wrote a poem about it, and artists like Vida Lahey and Lois Beumer painted the rainforest. Arthur Groom wrote a book called One Mountain After Another about Binna Burra.
The nearby McPherson Range, with its waterfalls, has been photographed by many, including Arthur Groom and Romeo Lahey. The landscape paintings by William Robinson also show how important and beautiful this area is.
The 2019 Bushfires
On September 6, 2019, all guests and staff at Binna Burra Lodge had to leave because of a major bushfire. On September 8, the fire badly damaged or destroyed the historic lodge and some cabins. However, many parts, like the camp ground, tea-house, Groom's Cottage, and some Skylodge buildings, survived. Roads were repaired, and the remaining parts of Binna Burra started reopening in stages in 2020.
What You Can See at Binna Burra
Binna Burra is located near Beechmont, surrounded by the beautiful Lamington National Park. Here are some of its key features:
Binna Burra Mountain Lodge
This is the main building, originally brought from Canungra in 1934. It was first used as a dining and recreation room. Today, it serves as the reception, lounge, and shop. It has been expanded over the years.
Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Cabins
The older cabins are made from horizontal tallow-wood slabs with shingle roofs. Some of these original slabs have been carefully moved and reused during renovations. The inside of the cabins has changed over time to be more modern.
Christmas Camp 1933 Site
This is an open grassy area, about 250 meters south of the main lodge. It's where the very first Christmas camp was held.
Commemorative Hoop Pines
Two special hoop pine trees stand on the western side of the lawn, near the Christmas Camp site. They were planted to remember important moments in Binna Burra's history.
Flying Fox Remnants
While the flying fox no longer operates, you can still see an old wheel near the northern end of the dining room. This wheel was part of the system that transported luggage up the mountain.
Win Bristow Garden Walk
This is a native garden located between the cabins and the lounge/reception area. It was created by a dedicated volunteer, Win Bristow.
Engine Room
This is a shed made of corrugated iron with a rock wall. It once housed the engine that powered the generator and sawmill.
Arthur Groom Memorial
This memorial is a basalt stone wall with a rosewood seat and a brass plaque. It honors Arthur Groom, who loved and understood the Australian bush. It's located at the entrance to the main walking track.
Old Vegetable Garden
East of the lodge, this area was once a vegetable garden that supplied food for the lodge. Today, you can still find some citrus trees, passionfruit vines, and old garden fencing. The old pump shed in this area shows where Binna Burra's first water wells were located.
Bellbird Clearing
This area is now used for fun activities like ropes courses and abseiling for guests. The old flying fox also passed through here.
Bellbird Lookout
About one kilometer east of the lodge, this natural rock formation offers amazing views of Nixon's Creek Valley, Ship's Stern, Turtle Rock, and Egg Rock.
Environmental Playground
This unique playground is designed to help children interact with nature. It's located about 150 meters along the road from the lodge.
Environmental Study Centre
This building was once Arthur Groom's home. It's now used as a study center for school groups, teaching them about the national park. It was renovated and expanded in 1980.
Why Binna Burra is Important
Binna Burra Cultural Landscape is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's a very important part of Queensland's history and culture.
A Special Place for Nature Tourism
Binna Burra shows how nature-based tourism developed in Queensland. The lodge buildings and cabins were designed to fit into the beautiful natural surroundings, helping to preserve the area while allowing people to visit and enjoy it. It played a big role in making Lamington National Park a popular tourist destination.
Amazing Natural Beauty
Binna Burra is part of a World Heritage-listed area called the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia. It offers incredible views of the surrounding countryside. Its unique features, like Egg Rock, Turtle Rock, and the McPherson Range, have inspired artists for over 60 years.
Famous poet Rodney Hall wrote about Binna Burra, and artists like Vida Lahey and Lois Beumer painted its rainforests. Artists even held camps there in the 1930s to capture its beauty. Arthur Groom wrote a book about Binna Burra, and photographers like Doug Spowart captured its landscapes. Even Romeo Lahey took photos to help his campaign to make the area a national park. The paintings by William Robinson and the orchestral music by Raymond Curtis also show how much this region is valued for its beauty. Tourists and local communities widely recognize its amazing aesthetic value.
Connected to Important People
Binna Burra has a strong connection to Romeo Lahey. He was not only key in creating Binna Burra but also in getting Lamington National Park officially declared in 1915. His work helped protect this beautiful area for everyone to enjoy.
