Woonoongoora

Lamington National Park

Woonoongoora – Lamington National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world.

The area is renowned for its beautiful waterfalls and more than 160 kilometres of walking trails, including the 21.4 kilometre Border track built in the late 1930s and the Binna Burra Caves circuit which has views out over the Coomera Valley waterfalls.

Binna Burra Lodge is conveniently situated right on the doorstep of this bushwalking mecca.

Stay. Play. Explore

Sky Lodge View
Accommodation
Activities
Walking Tracks

Acknowledging the earliest inhabitants at Binna Burra

A statement of information and policy endorsed by the Board of Directors, Binna Burra Lodge Limited, 18 December 2017.

‘Lamington National Park’s earliest human inhabitants were an Aboriginal kinship group, the Yugambeh who lived in this area, carefully managing and using its rich natural resources. Known as ‘Woonoongoora’ to the Yugambeh, the mountains are sacred and spiritual, places to be nurtured and respected.’

Dept of Environment and Science (DES)

As a business that operates within a World Heritage designated natural environment, Binna Burra Lodge Limited’s vision ‘To be a meaningful connection to nature and heritage’ is delivered with the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage of our location.

We acknowledge and respect that the land upon which Binna Burra is located was used by traditional ‘first nations’ people of this mountain area.

While some people may see Acknowledgement and Welcome to Country as a recent practice invented for the sake of political correctness, or an empty token gesture, Wurundjeri Elder, Joy Murphy Wandin, describes it as “a very important way of giving Aboriginal people back their place in society, and an opportunity for us to say, ‘We are real, we are here, and today we welcome you to our land’…It’s paying respect, in a formal sense, and following traditional custom in a symbolic way.”

ℹ️ Welcome to country

ℹ️ DES website

Binna Burra and Woonoongoora – Lamington National Park

One of Australia’s longest-established nature-based resorts, Binna Burra Lodge, was founded in 1933 by Arthur Groom and Romeo Lahey. These two pioneering conservationists shared a vision to create a place where people could stay and experience the beauty of the Lamington National Park rainforest. Through interpretive walks and educational programs, they believed more people would become committed to preserving this natural wilderness for future generations.

In the early 1930s, they purchased the last freehold title on the boundary of Lamington National Park and formed a public company to fund the establishment of what was to become Binna Burra Lodge.

The Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park quickly became a popular destination with keen bushwalkers of all ages. It also attracted a number of scientists studying the flora and fauna of this living laboratory. Guided, interpretive bushwalks were a feature of the Binna Burra experience even from the earliest days.

Hundreds of day-trippers visit Binna Burra and Lamington National Park every day. The ease of access and numerous waterfall trails make it a hot spot for people of all fitness levels and experience. The mission statement for Binna Burra is “to be a meaningful connection between nature and heritage”, so come on up and witness Lamington’s beauty for yourself and learn more about Binna Burra’s history and heritage.

Lamington Natural History Association

(LNHA)

Back in 1930, the pioneering founders of Binna Burra, Romeo Lahey and Arthur Groom were also instrumental in the founding of the NPAQ.

It was out of the NPAQ and its increasingly popular camp-outs that the idea of establishing low-cost but comfortable accommodation which would allow a greater number of people to gain access to the peace, freedom and beauty of Queensland’s national parks emerged, and Binna Burra was established in 1933. The association continues to promote the preservation, expansion and good management of national parks and other forms of protected areas in Queensland.

‘During the early years of Binna Burra, (Romeo) Lahey also marked out and began construction of walking tracks within Lamington National Park, laying the foundation of the extensive network of tracks in the park today.’ (Stubbs & Specht, 2005)

NPAQ is an independent, not-for-profit, membership-based organization, and is the first conservation organisation in Queensland, and the longest running National Park Association in Australia.

Nowadays, Binna Burra still shares the objectives of NPAQ:

  1. To preserve the National Parks and other protected areas of Queensland in their natural condition, to the greatest possible extent, and to endeavour to ensure the reservation and preservation of other areas considered to be suitable for protection;
  2. To foster member and public interest in, enjoyment of, and respect for National Parks and nature conservation;
  3. To promote the appropriate management of National Parks and other protected areas, and appropriate management of environmental factors which may affect existing and potential National Parks;
  4. To promote effective legal and environmental protections in respect of National Parks and other protected areas, and to ensure the enforcement of provisions for their protection;
  5. To promote appropriate and balanced measures for visitors to experience National Parks while conserving and protecting the natural environment.

National Parks Association of Queensland

(NPAQ)

In 1975 the Lamington Natural History Association (LNHA) wasformed, in association with Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse and the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service.

LNHA was based on a concept which was common in the USA in the early 1970s, but was the first of its type in Australia. One of the Association’s early major projects was the establishment of an environmental study centre and headquarters on the Binna Burra property by renovating the timber cabin which Arthur Groom had built for himself and his wife in 1935. Opened in 1976, the centre contained an office, class-room, and dormitory accommodation for children taking part in educational camps (Stubbs & Specht, 2005).

The aim of LNHA is, to encourage an understanding and appreciation of the environment and national park values and provide interpretative information for visitors to Lamington National Park.

It does this by:

  • Accredited members assisting the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) by volunteering in the Binna Burra Information Centre on weekends and school holidays
  • The LNHA provides interpretive information to visitors to Lamington National Park through, Books Track Guides and Brochures
  • Activities for Members and guests on four weekends per year
  • Guest speakers provide specialist talks on topics relating to Natural History, the environment and Lamington National Park