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| James and Hayley Baillie |
Owners James and Hayley Baillie work closely with outstanding architects to achieve a shared vision, complemented by their joint personal passion for contemporary design. Guests often comment on the attention to detail in the creation, as Australian foodie legend, Maggie Beer explains, ‘One of my favourite travel experiences is Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. Architect Max Pritchard and his very discerning clients James and Hayley Baillie have given Australia a most beautiful resort.’
A commitment to commissioning local designers and using locally-sourced, sustainable materials creates a unique feeling of ‘sense of place’. Together the lodges carry a “Baillie” feel of organic luxury with a local destination focus. Each luxury lodge is designed to allow the outside in, affording guests a seamless experience of the destination.
At Capella Lodge on World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island, a clever, contemporary architectural design by Sydney architect Justin Long in collaboration with interior architects Pike Withers, creates an easy living, flowing feel. Skillion roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows welcome the outside in. Generous decks invite lounging in the island’s afternoon sun with plantation shutters and copper finishes creating a sophisticated beach-house ambience. An open-plan lounge, bar and restaurant are set to a spectacular subtropical island backdrop; the lodge throws open its windows to catch the sea breeze and the scent of frangipani.
Spacious, light-filled interiors are Lord Howe beach-house chic; luxe organic finishes combine with modern mariner-style joinery, timber floors and kentia-themed Bruce Goold furnishings to create a relaxed, contemporary style and a feeling of ‘barefoot’ luxury. The Lodge is sustainable in design; timbers are recycled, floors furnished with natural floor coverings, lounging areas warmed with atmospheric EcoSmart fires.
Suites are furnished with such lounging treats as the addictive Danish 'Primetime' chair with a classic Artemide Tolomeo lamp stretching above, ideal for a ‘guilty as sin’ read in the afternoon breeze. The custom ‘Baillie Bed’ designed by Australian family manufacturer AH Beard features throughout, whilst in- and outdoor lounging is enriched with bespoke soft furnishings. Wood art by young Australian designers Jodie Bohlu and Julie Paterson add to the 'laid back' Lord Howe feel and organic artworks by Cardamatis and Saad use natural botanicals to create rhythmic, textured designs.
Reflecting the sheer rise of the mountains beyond, basalt stone features in striking ensuite bathrooms; an oversized rain shower and custom-created Capella Spa toiletries revitalise. Expansive outdoor terraces and decks with Gervasoni ceramic cubes and sumptuous daybeds complete a picture of relaxed, barefoot luxury.
Heading south to Kangaroo Island, local South Australian Max Pritchard is the architectural mastermind behind the much-lauded design of Southern Ocean Lodge, which opened to world-wide acclaim in 2008. Set along a remote stretch of coastline overlooking the Southern Ocean and surrounded by national parks, the twenty-one suite ‘super-lodge’ is made remarkable by the total experience, and in great part by Max’s aim to minimise environmental impact and to maximise each guest’s experience of the destination.
Perceptions of the Lodge design from afar are personal and open to debate; does it ‘float’ above the coastal landscape? Does its form reflect the waves rolling towards the shore, or is it the ridges of the limestone cliffs?
The feeling upon entering is one of awe, for the landscape and the Lodge alike. Max has created a dramatic Lodge entrance appreciated best in hindsight; the drive to the Lodge through the fauna-rich bushland deliberately disguises the view of the Southern Ocean for which the Lodge is named. The first vision of the ocean and coastline stretching ad infinitum is on entrance to the main Lodge via grand rusted steel doors; the guest is then invited to take in the Lodge’s Great Room, its lounge and restaurant with this awe-inspiring backdrop.
Local materials encourage a real sense of place – recycled timbers, white limestone floors and the chalk-white local limestone wall sculpture which snakes through the Lodge, linking and highlighting its features in the most remarkable manner. A suspended fireplace spreads a warm glow throughout.
Outside, boardwalks that hover above the earth link the Lodge to the remote Southern Spa, stargazing platform and the nearby ‘private’ bay for swimming or beachcombing. Iconic Australian artist Florence Broadhurst is honoured in the wallpapers and soft furnishings throughout the Lodge and Spa.
Artworks on display are exclusively collected from Kangaroo Island artists, and include the leaf mandalas by Janine Mackintosh, and ‘Sunshine’ the watchful kangaroo, created with found objects by local sculptor Indiana James. Glassworks and ceramics are sourced from the inspiring Jam Factory on the mainland’s Adelaide, a mecca for SA designers to create and show their work. Signature tableware from Malcolm Greenwood and Bison reflect the raw Australian landscape. James and Hayley Baillie have commissioned such design luminaries as local Khai Liew for his artisan timber furnishings, likewise dynamic Melbourne duo Pierre and Charlotte Julian.
A focus on each guest’s experience of place has ensured every suite has spectacular views of the Southern Ocean and coast, an inspiration from daybreak till the dusk softens. Suites feature local artworks, EcoSmart fires and custom soft furnishings. Ensuite bathrooms are filled with Southern Spa amenities using locally-sourced botanicals and warmed with limestone tiles and floor-to-ceiling windows to allow a view from any angle. A step outside to a protected private terrace with daybed allows a deep breath of pure fresh air, delivered direct from the Antarctic.
In November 2013 iconic outback camp Longitude 131° at World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was included as the third luxury lodge in the Baillie Lodges’ portfolio and work quickly started to refresh the Philip Cox designed lodge with an initial $2million soft refurbishment.
James and Hayley Baillie along with the broader Baillie Lodges team adopted a hands-on approach to sourcing and installing new design elements for a thorough overall of the lodge’s interior and exterior guest accommodations to align the iconic retreat with the group’s existing properties.
Key to the new direction unveiled in the soft refurbishment this month is the introduction of local Indigenous heritage to the artworks and artefacts in the guest tents and lounge areas. Baillie Lodges is working closely with various Indigenous art centres in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands to commission artworks from the nearby Anangu communities for display at Longitude 131°. Included are dot paintings from Mutitjulu and Ernabella, Tjanpi Desert Weavers’ baskets, Ernabella ceramics and wood carvings or punu.
The new Indigenous art complements the existing explorers’ artefacts, photographs and journals throughout the property and each is united by contemporary new fabrics and soft furnishings which reflect the rich ochres, midnight blues and desert greens of the outback landscape.
The refurbishment has introduced the Baillie Lodges touch to all areas of Longitude 131°, from updated soft furnishings, new linens and the group’s signature “Baillie Bed”, to new uniforms designed exclusively by bush outfitters RM Williams for the team. A new fleet of luxury Mercedes touring vehicles has been delivered to carry guests in comfort.
Other enhancements include new commissioned furniture throughout guest tents and dining areas including contemporary campaign chairs by Pierre and Charlotte Julian, sumptuous leather armchairs by Arthur G allowing guests to enjoy their Uluru outlook in comfort through the changing lights of each day and an outback-inspired range of dining ceramics by Malcolm Greenwood. Outside, Eco-Smart fire-pits and flares bring a new light to the landscape experience including dining at Table 131°.
Future plans include a larger redesign with plans by architect Max Pritchard featuring new premium canopy suites with a horizon pool facing Uluru, and new dune-top retreat with an infinity pool and a lounging and dining deck for enjoying sunsets and dinners under the stars.
Guests staying at any of the sister properties will welcome familiar design elements shared amongst the lodges; the comfort of a Baillie Bed or popular ‘Prime Time’ chair, the warmth of Bemboka custom blankets, soft furnishings by Cloth’s Julie Patterson and an extraordinary dining experience made more memorable by Malcolm Greenwood’s organic ceramics. Ecosmart fires warm inside and out, whilst cool Gervasoni ceramic cubes dot exterior lounge areas, reflecting the colours of the landscape.
Together the three lodges are among the most celebrated luxury destinations in Australia. The experience of design at Baillie Lodges is one of sublime, stylish luxury and connection with an extraordinary destination.
Baillie Lodges is a collection of intimate luxury lodges in unique Australian destinations. Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island launched the portfolio and continues to capture guests in its magic. Southern Ocean Lodge is Australia's most extraordinary luxury lodge offering a premium nature-based escape. Longitude 131° is a gathering of luxury tented pavilions overlooking fabled icon Uluru, delivering a journey to Australia’s spiritual heart. The Baillie Lodges properties are honoured as founding members of Luxury Lodges of Australia.
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