Southern Ocean Lodge’s record season, Capella’s enduring charm, news of the upcoming Baillies Sydney and whispers (or is it a roar?!) od the Great Ocean Road – read all about it in Lisa Allen’s most recent story in The Weekend Australian, right here http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/the-yanks-are-coming-back/story-fn9656lz-1226566995815
Via Property Observer
By Larry Schlesinger
Friday, August 24 2012
Boutique lodge operator Baillie Lodges has submitted a development application for its proposed new ultra-expensive hotel, including a new “ribbed building” joining two Victorian-era warehouses dating back to the 1840s.
Photos included in the submissions show a Sydney seeped in Victorian-era architecture with brick terraces and horse-drawn carts.
The application by Baillie Lodges has an estimated construction cost of $6.3 million.
The new hotel has been designed by architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer architects, led by director Tim Greer, which has past experience in projects incorporating a heritage element.It features a new two-storey building to be built on the site of the Westpac museum with a ribbed façade and a roof terrace, linked to 47 George Street.
Among the firm’s most well-known projects is the ‘Portico’ Scots Church redevelopment in Wynward, a short walk from the Rocks, which topped the disused, heritage-listed neo-gothic 1920s church with apartments while keeping the gothic façade at the base.Baillie Lodges – run by husband-and-wife operators James and Hayley Baillie – is targeting a mid-2014 opening for what would be its first inner-city Sydney venture.
They are seeking to make alterations and additions to two existing heritage listed buildings, demolish the 1980s-built former Westpac Museum and erect a new building to create the new boutique hotel.
The heritage buildings stand on the corner of George Street and Atherton streets in the Rocks and form part of a predominantly Victorian and Edwardian streetscape at the northern end of George Street.
The two heritage buildings are Union Bond Store at 47 George Street, Merchants House at 43-45 George Street as well as the adjoining Avery Terrace site, which houses the former Westpac Museum.
The project is being managed by Matthew Giltrap, who says a final decision on the application may not be made until November. The application requires approval of the Heritage Council.
Should this go smoothly, construction could begin in March.
The Baillies have acquired 35-year leases on the two adjacent historic buildings on George Street
Documents show that the construction of Union Bond Store dates back to 1841, Merchants House dates back to 1848 and Avery Terrace to 1881.
The Union Bond Store and Merchant’s House form a Victorian Regency period “bookend” to the adjacent two-storey terrace houses.
Historical documents included in the application show the rich heritage of the site.
There are grainy photographs showing the two matching warehouses at 47 George Street dating back to 1858 adjoining the Union Bond Store.
An 1880s directory excerpt lists the tenants at 47 George Street as “E Bow and Co. Wholesale Druggists”
Also taken in 1880 is this photo showing the two buildings fronting George Street with horse-drawn carts out the front and a winch used to lift supplies from the carts to higher levels of the warehouse.
At the turn of the century, Union Bond Store and Merchant’s House are shown as part of the Estate of the John Martyn.
More historical pictures show the warehouse within the context of a distinctly Victorian-looking Sydney with boats and ships moored in a Circular Quay that looks nothing like today’s modern high-rise version
Plans for the Baillies’ Sydney were revealed by James Baillie in April this year.
He told Property Observer he chose The Rocks because it is a “quintessentially Sydney location” and “perfectly located close to all of Sydney key iconic attractions”.
Suite tariffs (double) will range from $1,200 to $3,000 per night inclusive of gourmet breakfast, open bar and in-suite bar, evening cocktails and canapés, airport transfers and town car service.
The Great Ocean Road is next on the couple’s agenda, and they also have ambitions of opening a second larger luxury hotel in Sydney.
Baillie Lodges was founded in 2003 and currently operates three luxury lodges in wilderness locations, these being Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island, the Baillies’ first venture, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island (pictured above) and Remarkable Lodge in Tasmania (still in discussion!).
http://www.southernoceanlodge.com.au/pdfs/downloads/BL%20Newsletter%20July%202012.pdf
THE Rocks is re-emerging as a chic patch for some of the city’s most stylish accommodation. The harbourside Park
47 George Street | Baillies Sydney
Hyatt Sydney has reopened after a year-long renovation and has an airy new indoor-outdoor feel, with acres of glass and loungey interiors.
The 59-room Harbour Rocks Hotel, at 34 Harrington St, is set in a series of 1887-built heritage terraces and has just had a full makeover. This tucked-away property is a heritage gem, with original convict-laid sandstone, exposed timbers, a lovely oasis-like courtyard and a groovy little restaurant, Scarlett.
Meanwhile, James and Hayley Baillie of Baillie Lodges — with properties on NSW’s Lord Howe Island and South Australia’s Kangaroo Island — have announced Baillies Sydney, due to open in late 2013.
The high-end bespoke property, across four historic buildings at 43-47 George St on lease from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, will have 10 suites, ultra-luxury extras, wellness spa, rooftop pool and terrace, chauffeured cars for guests’ use and a “stay in” dinner concept in tune with its residential flavour.
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/travel/warm-beds-and-cold-beers/story-e6frg8rf-1226387977371
Susan Kurosawa
El Questro Homestead, located in the magnificent Kimberley region of Western Australia has joined Luxury Lodges of Australia (LLoA), further showcasing Australia’s extraordinary regional diversity and experiential luxury travel offering.
The Homestead is a stylish luxury retreat set high overlooking the Chamberlain River in El Questro Wilderness Park, a vast landscape of just under a million acres comprising red rock ranges, river gorges, waterfalls and thermal springs.
“El Questro Homestead is a significant addition to the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection,” said James Baillie, Chair of Luxury Lodges of Australia.
“It is a truly Australian travel offering that has stood the test of time – an outstanding blend of remote regional hospitality and the exploration of the superb outback wilderness landscape of the Kimberley – one of the great icons of our amazing Australian landscape.”
Tim Smith, Managing Director of Delaware North Australia Parks and Resorts, owners of El Questro, said “This seems to be a very fitting honour as we celebrate our 20th anniversary in providing luxury accommodation to guests from Australia and all over the world wanting to experience this very special place.”
El Questro Wilderness Park is one million acres in size and really is one of the last true frontiers with rugged sandstone ranges, gorges, waterfalls and abundant wildlife. At the heart of the property lies El Questro Homestead, a boutique oasis, perched atop a cliff with bird’s eye views of The Chamberlain River.
The extensive experiences menu is key to the Homestead offering and there are diverse options for guided drives, bush, culture and nature tours, bird-watching, gorge hikes, swimming at pristine waterfalls and rock pools, scenic flights, remote picnics and fishing excursions.
The Homestead is an easy 90-minute drive (just over 100km) from Kununurra or is accessible via private airstrip. It caters to a maximum of eighteen guests in nine suites including three newly opened Cliffside Retreats.
The Retreats offer uninterrupted views across the Chamberlain Gorge where freshwater crocodiles, turtles, catfish and wild barramundi can be seen from the room’s balconies and outdoor baths. These new rooms join the existing accommodation which includes the premium luxury of the Chamberlain Suite featuring a wrap-around veranda, floor to ceiling windows, a double shower and an indoor/outdoor private double bath overlooking the gorge.
The Homestead is renowned for serving premium cuisine in dramatic locations, from a secluded cliff top table to the Homestead’s spacious verandas.
Luxury Lodges of Australia was formed as a result of the dramatic change in the Australian travel landscape over the past decade, which has seen the emergence of a new breed of exceptional lodges and camps in some of Australia’s most beautiful and outstanding regions.
Never before has Australia had a critical mass of experiential luxury properties to appeal to global travellers and adventure seekers.
With the addition of El Questro Homestead, eighteen of Australia’s leading independent luxury tourism properties comprise the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection. The lodges are independently owned and operated, but are united by their delivery of uniquely Australian experiences and a strong sense of place.
Each lodge has its signature experiences and activities to showcase the special aspects of its region. It is these experiences that define the new Australian luxury and showcase Australia’s extraordinary diversity.
James Baillie said: “Australia is now, more than ever, one of the most exciting and desirable travel destinations globally. Australia’s diversity is unique. No other country in the world has the breadth and depth of experience we have. Now, for the first time, in many of our remote regions, this is now offered at the luxe levels expected by experience-seeking luxury travellers.”
The collection has brought together many of Australia’s innovators and leaders in hospitality, tourism, food and wine, and regional development; and their passion for delivering authentically Australian luxury experiences over and above offering a great place to stay, is ingrained in their unique lodge offering.
Luxury Lodges of Australia www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au
Hi res image library http://www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au/news/images
James and Hayley Baillie at #47, the site of upcoming luxury lodge in the heart of town, Baillies Sydney
See more at http://gourmettraveller.com.au/the-2012-hot-100-in-pictures.htm
The champion of all great dining and travel experiences, Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine, has announced its finalists in the 2012 Travel Awards.
Now six years in the running, the Awards are designed to recognise outstanding destinations and operators, those dedicated to showcasing Australia’s best tourism assets.
Baillie Lodges is thrilled that Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island has been selected as a finalist award nominee for the third year running in the Awards’ Best Resort/Lodge Category.
Last year over 25,000 readers voted in the GT Travel Awards, please join in (again!) this year to see Southern Ocean Lodge hit its stride as one
| of the nation’s finest luxury lodges.
The subtropical beauty of Lord Howe Island, home to sister property Capella Lodge has been nominated in the Getaway Best Family Experience, so Baillie Lodges is excited to be represented in two major GT Award categories again for 2012. Nominees for each award are selected by an esteemed panel of travel writers, reviewers and industry experts, and the baton is now passed to you, our Lodge friends to get the winners across the line! There are great prizes for voters, including the chance to win an exotic trip for two to Shanghai, staying at The PuLi Hotel and Spa! It’s easy to vote here online for Southern Ocean Lodge to reclaim the ‘Best Lodge’ title for 2012 and here for Capella Lodge/Lord Howe Island. Voting is live now and ends at midnight, Sunday 6 May 2012, with the winners announced in the June edition of Gourmet Traveller. Do vote now for your favourite Lodge…or two! Thank you for your generous support, James and Hayley Baillie & the Baillie Lodges team |
Luxury Lodges of Australia welcomes Pretty Beach House on the leafy NSW coast to its fold as its newest member. Pretty Beach House will keep such excellent lodge company in the association as Capella and Southern Ocean Lodge, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Longitude 131, Bedarra Island and more. 
“Pretty Beach House is an outstanding addition to the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection” said James Baillie, Chair of Luxury Lodges of Australia and owner of globally acclaimed Southern Ocean Lodge.
“The combination of stunning design and service, fantastic attention to detail and all the key luxury standards, combined with the experience of a distinctly Australian coastal bush region, make it a natural fit for this collection of experiential luxury properties.”
Brian Barry, co-General Manager of the lodge with wife Karina stated, “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this new Australian group of luxury experiential lodges, and we are very much looking forward to working in partnership with such a benchmark group.”
Pretty Beach House is a quintessentially Australian, super sophisticated guesthouse, perched high on the escarpment at Pretty Beach, on the NSW Bouddi Peninsula. Just 100 kilometres north of Sydney this guesthouse offers a new style of luxury in designer pavilion style accommodation with all-inclusive rates and around the clock butler service.
Pretty Beach House offers just three private pavilions, superb casa linga style dining provided by one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Stefano Manfredi, and a wealth of guided or self-guided coastal bush walks, beach excursions and water activities.
With easy access from Sydney by car, seaplane, private boat, helicopter or ferry, Pretty Beach House is a coastal bush haven, right on Sydney’s doorstep.
Brian Barry noted, “The creation of Pretty Beach House has been a highlight in a life in hospitality for Karina and myself. To have such an endeavor recognized, with an invitation to join Luxury Lodges of Australia is more than gratifying.”
“Offering our guests an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience is what it is all about for us, and we believe this new partnership will complement all parties involved.”
Luxury Lodges of Australia was formed as a result of the dramatic change in the Australian travel landscape over the past decade, which has seen the emergence of a new breed of exceptional lodges and camps in some of Australia’s most beautiful and outstanding regions.
Never before has Australia had a critical mass of experiential luxury properties to appeal to global travellers and adventure seekers.
With the addition of Pretty Beach House, seventeen of Australia’s leading independent luxury tourism properties comprise the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection. The lodges are independently owned and operated, but are united by their delivery of uniquely Australian experiences and a strong sense of place.
Each lodge has its signature experiences and activities to showcase the special aspects of its region. It is these experiences that define the new Australian luxury and showcase Australia’s extraordinary diversity.
James Baillie said: “Australia is now, more than ever, one of the most exciting and desirable travel destinations globally. Australia’s diversity is unique. No other country in the world has the breadth and depth of experience we have. Now, for the first time, in many of our remote regions, this is now offered at the luxe levels expected by experience-seeking luxury travellers.”
The collection has brought together many of Australia’s innovators and leaders in hospitality, tourism, food and wine, and regional development; and their passion for delivering authentically Australian luxury experiences over and above offering a great place to stay, is ingrained in their unique lodge offering.
