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Business With Purpose

Achieving a better and more sustainable future for all

Basking in the shadow of Mount Mulligan – a site of Indigenous significance extending back some 37,000 years – and surrounded by a 28,000-hectare working cattle station, the ethos at Mt Mulligan Lodge is to tread lightly on the landscape and let nature and history reveal themselves.

“Life in the outback teaches us that resources are precious. We learn to value and preserve what we have: land, water, food, people, culture and history,” said Adam Barnett, General Manager, Mt Mulligan Lodge.

“We are focused on reducing our impact on the environment and making a positive impact on our community. Sustainability and commercial viability together, make great long-term partners.”

Community… local local local

“Our aim is to work with as many local suppliers as possible for everything from food and beverage to art and the activities offered to our guests,” said Adam Barnett.

Guests learn about the region’s rich and tragic gold and coal rush history on excur-sions to the abandoned township of Mount Mulligan and nearby historic goldmine, as well as gain a first-hand experience of life on an outback pastoral property.

By sharing their connection and respect for their environment and cultural heritage, Mt Mulligan Lodge’s hosts aim to inspire their guests with an enthusiasm for con-servation.

Through a combination of guided nature walks, 4WD safaris and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) adventures, the lodge’s passionate and knowledgeable hosts interpret one of Australia’s most spectacular – but relatively undiscovered – landscapes, including endemic plants (one of which is found exclusively on the property) and native fauna such as agile wallabies.

“At Mt Mulligan Lodge we are continuously expanding our efforts to tackle im-portant sustainability issues by focusing on areas where we think we can have the most impact. We recognise that we need a multifaceted approach to address is-sues around climate change, land management and cultural heritage,” explained Adam Barnett.

While it may initially seem harsh, the outback environment is fragile and complex, and Mt Mulligan Lodge aims to reduce its operational impact on the surrounding landscape.

Minimising our environmental footprint

Waste management in such a remote location is challenging. The lodge has invested in composting, glass crushing and recycling facilities and is working to better manage waste on site.

Single-use plastics and packaging are being phased out; guest slippers are washable and made from recyclable materials, and guest amenities in bathrooms are housed in recyclable, refillable containers. Water tanks collect rainwater, which is used for irrigation and watering.

The lodge buildings were designed to minimise energy use, water consumption and environmental impact. Architecturally, they echo the practical, historical pastoral structures of outback Australia, and utilise repurposed timbers and local stone.

The luxury safari-style tents on-site were designed by EcoStructures Australia to have minimal impact on the land; they sit on raised timber platforms and rely on solar power and recycled water.

Other sustainability initiatives (Our mandatories)

• Solar energy and batteries partly power the lodge, and the Northern Escape Collection offers guests the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions of their helicopter flights to the lodge.
• Mt Mulligan Lodge supports the anti-straw movement to help clean up our oceans. Paper straws are available upon request. The lodge provides stainless steel water bottles as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic water bottles.
• The Morris Group is Mt Mulligan Lodge’s parent company and, through its philanthropic foundation, the Morris Family Foundation, it supports projects and organisations with meaningful social, economic and environmental impact both at home in Australia, and internationally.
• Recognising that Queensland is the home to one of the world’s greatest natural treasures, Mt Mulligan Lodge donates $50 per guest stay to the Morris Family Foundation Reef Keepers Fund, which supports projects that protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef.

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