A Nostalgic Revival: Halse Lodge

• What was your role in bringing new life to Halse Lodge?

CLO Studios worked on the creative direction and interior design for Halse Lodge. Reimagining its future and honouring its past. Restoring the beauty of an 1880’s guesthouse, restaurant & bar.

• What has been the most exciting or rewarding aspect of this project for you?

The Halse Lodge team gave us creative freedom which led to a very colourful and rich in-depth design direction. Working on such a significant site to our community has been incredibly exciting. Designing a place for what we feel Noosa needs and collaborating with like-minded locals to celebrate what Noosa has to offer. For the menu and bar, we worked with Heads of Noosa, Seabourne distillery & Chef Ryan Fitzpatrick. Designing a menu suited for the easy-going beachside vibes while sipping away in the sun.

The standout moment for us will be welcoming back the Noosa Community and Australian & International travellers to experience the new wave of Halse Lodge.

Which heritage elements or stories were most important to retain in the redesign?

The main dining hall has been transformed into an extended bar, with a restored vintage record player and speakers set upon an art deco sideboard, the original 1880’s piano remains in its first position. The walls are adorned with historical photographs of Noosa alongside framed postcards collected along my travels to evoke memories of sundrenched holidays spent with friends and family. All the original features and beauty of the lodge have been restored and refinished to their core.

How would you describe the new look and feel of Halse Lodge?

Paying homage to the building’s history, the interiors evoke a nostalgic caravan feel, conjuring up sun bleached memories of a summer by the sea. Embracing the laidback energy of the 1970’s, yellow and salmon pinstriped curtains frame custom in-built bunks in “all spice” brown alongside classic chrome fixtures. The original timber floors have been retained and carefully restored, with cork flooring added to areas that lacked original timber.

Throughout the property, the ceilings are painted in bold, glossy hues of sunshine yellow and strawberry red, uncharacteristic to Noosa, with custom dolphin-coloured velvet sofas adding to the playful, nostalgic atmosphere.

What was your ultimate goal in reimagining this iconic Noosa venue?

From restoration to management, the entire project has been led by a family of passionate Noosa locals, each member having grown up with fond memories at the lodge. The reopening offers a renewed destination that bridges Noosa’s past and future, preserving the beauty of the lodge’s history and breathing new life into this treasured property.

The building team led by Tom Robilliard director of T Casa Projects have been true craftsman in the restoration. Working on heritage renovations requires a high level of detail and planning and we couldn’t be prouder of the end result.