Carolyn Beasley for Post Magazine returns to Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, delving into the remarkable resurgence of the island and its wildlife. She explores how the once-ravaged landscape has revived, and how Southern Ocean Lodge, alongside other local businesses, has fortified its resilience, emerging stronger and more prepared to face future challenges.

In January 2020, nearly half of Kangaroo Island’s 440,000 hectares was consumed by devastating bushfires, leaving a significant portion of the landscape scorched, including the renowned Southern Ocean Lodge. The loss to local wildlife and native flora was immense, forever altering the island’s ecosystem. In the wake of this tragedy, the resilient community sprang into action, establishing a nursery that meticulously propagated 40,000 plants from locally sourced seeds, symbolizing hope and renewal.

As Southern Ocean Lodge embarked on its rebuild, fire safety became an unwavering priority. The new design was meticulously crafted with advanced fire-resistant materials and state-of-the-art safety measures, ensuring that the lodge stands as both a beacon of luxury and a testament to the enduring spirit of Kangaroo Island.

“The ash had barely cooled when the owners, Baillie Lodges, announced they would rebuild, and in December 2023, the new lodge’s doors swung open. It is through these doors that I now walk. From the outside, the new version is almost a doppelgänger of its old self. Despite many similarities to the original, subtle differences can be detected by the trained eye.”

To read the full article, click here.