Damage to the historic Binna Burra Lodge in the Gold Coast hinterland has been described as "quite extreme" by Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen.

Key points: Fire has destroyed the historic Binna Burra Lodge in the Gold Coast hinterland

Fire has destroyed the historic Binna Burra Lodge in the Gold Coast hinterland The accommodation site, with views of Lamington National Park, celebrated its 85th birthday last year

The accommodation site, with views of Lamington National Park, celebrated its 85th birthday last year It is part of an Australian World Heritage-listed rainforest reserve

As the bushfire emergency continues in the hinterland, flames fanned by strong winds caused extensive damage to the resort site, destroying the heritage-listed wooden lodge building that had stood since the 1930s.

Aerial footage of the heritage-listed accommodation showed both its wooden cabins and its new Sky Lodge apartments had also been affected.

"The level of damage at Binna Burra resort is quite extreme," Councillor Christensen said on Sunday afternoon.

"The lodge has been fully destroyed.

"The majority of the commercial assets — the accommodation, the units, the restaurant and so forth have — also all been destroyed and there will be a significant recovery effort."

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Kevin Walsh said access had hindered the ability of fire crews to save the site.

"The main problem with the lodge is that there was only one road in and one road out," he said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 58 seconds 58 s The site's Sky Lodges were also damaged.

"We had crews in close vicinity to the lodge last night but they couldn't actually make entry to the grounds.

"We've got huge trees falling across the roads and it's an incredibly dangerous situation."

Binna Burra Lodge chairman Steven Noakes fought back tears as he described the damage.

"It's a dark day in the 86-year history of Binna Burra," Mr Noakes said.

"[Fires] have destroyed much of the heritage building facilities and some of our more contemporary buildings also."

Binna Burra Lodge, pictured here before the fire, was opened in 1933. ( ABC Gold Coast: Damien Larkins )

The lodge was evacuated last Friday and Mr Noakes said determining the full extent of the damage was difficult because access is still cut off.

"We have much soul-searching to do over the next few days," he said.

"We're not out of the danger zone yet because the winds are very unpredictable."

QFES confirmed bushfires had caused "significant" damage to the heritage-listed Binna Burra Lodge in the Gold Coast hinterland. ( Supplied: Binna Burra Lodge )

It was founded by conservationists Arthur Groom and Romeo Lahey in 1933.

The pair wanted to build a place for people to stay and experience the beauty of Lamington National Park.

They bought the last remaining free-hold title on the edge of the park and formed a public company to fund it.

Surrounded by Lamington National Park, the lodge has panoramic views of the surrounding rainforest.

The area is part of the World Heritage-listed Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia.



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Griffith University ecologist Darryl Jones said he was devastated by the news.

"It's a remarkable place. It's a rainforest, it's a lush wet green place — how can it be burning?" Professor Jones said.

Your memories of Binna Burra Lodge

Cecilia O'Grady worked at the lodge between 1982 and 1986 and said she was devastated by news of the fire.

"It's like losing a family member," Ms O'Grady said.

"It was such an important part of my life and I've got such brilliant memories from that time there.

"I feel quite emotional thinking about it, the history of the place. It's a very spiritual place. It's beautiful."

Others have been sharing their memories of the lodge on ABC Radio Brisbane.

Frances from Grange said she used to travel to the lodge by bus in the 1960s.

"On Friday night from Brisbane, a crowded bus, everybody singing songs," she said. "There'd be dances [such as] The Stomp in the big hall — it was wonderful."

Andrew from Alexandra Hills said he got married there 12 years ago.

"It was a special place for my wife and myself, we take our kids there," he said. "I'm just terribly sad."

Binna Burra Lodge has been a popular destination since the early 1930s. ( www.binnaburralodge.com.au )

Determined to rebuild

Mr Noakes vowed to rebuild the lodge, but said the new design would have to reflect the changing climate.

"The board and the shareholders and those that know and love Binna Burra dearly can rest assured that we will build something again on this magnificent location inside Lamington National Park.

"We've never had these sort of conditions at this time of year, and we have to be able to build infrastructure that can adapt to those changing conditions of climate, and that's what we'll do."

The bushfire gutted the original Binna Burra Lodge building. ( ABC News )

There is a Prepare to Leave alert for surrounding areas, with fire crews desperately trying to halt a blaze that flared almost a week ago.

"We're unable to get any type of appliance into that location just due to the danger involved," Assistant Commissioner Walsh said.

"We'll continue to use air assets to try and slow down the fire.

"The fire is obviously creeping down the other side of the ridge now.

"The next township of significance is obviously Springbrook and that'll be our focus now."