SOL 2.0: A Tale of Hope

January 12, 2021

A note to our friends.

In the early dawn of 2021, we look back to this time a year ago when our hearts and minds were consumed by the bushfires that raged around Australia’s remote wilderness area and which so quickly destroyed the Baillie Lodges flagship, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island.

Now’s our chance; the amazing opportunity comes from a terrible loss… But hey. Let’s move forward.

James

One year and a pandemic later, the lodge site on the wild southern coast of Kangaroo Island has been cleared. Small teams of friends and industry colleagues have helped clear remaining bush in working bees called ‘Camp SOL’ lead by our intrepid Lodge Managers John Hird and Alison Heath. The landscape – its wildlife and vegetation – has begun to regenerate; the spirit of this remarkable place lives on and everyone is keen to see Southern Ocean Ledge recreated.

The feelings of sadness and loss are passing, and now it’s all about let’s get on and do this.

Hayley

We are so excited to be working once again with architect Max Pritchard on the ‘Southern Ocean Lodge 2.0’ project. We all agree there are many aspects of the original lodge design that were a success from the outset, while other elements may be enhanced to enrich the guest experience of the lodge and landscape. So, there’ll be some well-loved elements recreated, and some pleasant surprises in the lodge’s next iteration.

‘Sunshine’, the lodge’s well-loved kangaroo sculpture who stood at the upper lounge near reception to welcome guests was incredibly found still valiantly standing amongst the ashes after the fires had passed through. Now, after some TLC from his creator, Kangaroo Island artist Indiana James, Sunshine has been fully restored to his farmer glory and is waiting to be reinstalled to his place in the lodge reception, a symbol of Baillie Lodges’ resilient spirit and determination to rebuild.

After opening Southern Ocean Lodge in 2008, we thought in hindsight that the journey of its creation – from concept to doors-open – would have made an interesting story for a documentary. Now that we have our time again, we have decided to capture the recreation of SOL 2.0, working with acclaimed Adelaide-based film maker Paul Ryan of 57 Films. View a preview of things to come…

Warm regards,

James & Hayley Baillie