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22 February, 2022

Baillie Lodges begin rebuilding iconic property destroyed by bush fires

Two years after the Baillie Lodges property, Southern Ocean Lodge, was destroyed in the Kangaroo Island (KI) bushfires, company founders James and Hayley Baillie have confirmed the rebuild of the luxury lodge is set to commence.

The couple formally marked the start of building in a sod-turning ceremony on the lodge’s original site on KI’s remote southwest coast.

The event was attended by the Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall, Southern Ocean Lodge Managers, John Hird and Alison Heath, and architect Max Pritchard.

Works are set to begin immediately, with the new-look Southern Ocean Lodge – dubbed ‘SOL 2.0’ – slated to open in the second half of 2023.

Investment in the project is forecast at around $50 million, with up to 70 tradespeople engaged for the duration of the build. When the lodge reopens it will provide employment to more than 50 staff.

Architectural rendering of the Lodge | Supplied

“It is a remarkable achievement from the entire team at Baillie Lodges to commit to bringing back an absolute icon of South Australian tourism,” Marshall said.

“Rebuilding Southern Ocean Lodge – a truly world-class destination on Kangaroo Island – is not only an enormous show of confidence in how our state will strongly bounce back, but also in the future of tourism and business on the island.

“Tourism is worth over $270 million to Kangaroo Island – with one in every two jobs linked to tourism, so it is a massive shot in the arm today to see SOL 2.0 start to rise up and take shape.”

Founder James Baillie said he was both relieved and excited to see the SOL 2.0 build commence.

“There’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes over these past two years and we are so pleased to have the band back together again, working with Max Pritchard on designs, Matthew Giltrap and Mat Daniel on the build and with the works of so many of the state’s fine designers and artists like Khai Liew and Janine MacIntosh already commissioned for the property,” he said

“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who has helped and encouraged us to date, including the close KI community, Southern Ocean Lodge friends and former staff who’ve helped in our working bees and the South Australian government whose continued support for the project has been invaluable.

“We’re looking forward to putting this period behind us, and to wow guests once again with the wild beauty of KI. We hope SOL 2.0 will be a symbol of resilience and optimism for the future of Australian tourism.”

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Alison Heath baillie lodges Hayley Baillie James Baillie Janine MacIntosh John Hird Kangaroo Island bushfires Khai Liew Mat Daniel Matthew Giltrap Max Pritchard SOL 2.0 south australian tourism southern ocean lodge Steven Marshall