Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa by Coffey Projects (Australia) Pty Ltd for Emirates Hotels (Australia) Pty Ltd
The Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia's first luxury conservation-based resort, is set amidst stunning sandstone escarpments in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area outside of Sydney. Built within its own 4,000 acre private nature and conservation reserve between the Garden of Stone and Wollemi National Parks, the unique resort occupies less than two percent of the total property and consists of 40 free standing luxury suites built around a leisure pool, day spa and fully restored homestead.
The resort was designed and built with the specific goals of understated luxury combined with rustic Australian architecture that combines high-end travelling with a commitment to broader social, ecological and environmental sustainability. The design defers to its natural context, consisting primarily of timber and sandstone under traditional steel roofing using predominantly locally sourced materials. Particular care was taken throughout the life of the development to incorporate as many ecologically sustainable solutions as possible, including rainwater collection, full recycling of all domestic water waste treatment system collects and treats waste on site, heat exchange technology to reduce electricity consumption and the use of solar panels for exterior lighting and all hot water systems.
The conservation reserve is also actively managed, focussing on large scale environmental rehabilitation of the former cattle property and endangered species protection. These and other measures, such as the planting of over 175,000 trees on the property, have recently resulted in the Wolgan Valley Spa & Resort being the first hotel in the world to achieve internationally accredited carbon neutral certification.
Judges Comments
This development provides a unique combination of an iconic location, understated luxury, privacy and outstanding conservation values. Targeting the luxury tourism market, the project is able to offer ecologically sustainable solutions while providing significant employment opportunities to a regional location.
The establishment and active management of a private conservation and wild-life reserve ensures that sustainability principles applied to energy and water capture and re-use are extended to active renewal of flora and fauna though out the valley.
Themed around rustic Australian architecture set amidst a backdrop of the sandstone escarpments of the Blue Mountains, the resort is to be commended for being the first hotel to achieve internationally accredited carbon neutral certification.