El Questro Homestead gets $1.9 Million Upgrade

Voyages has announced that El Questro, one of Australia’s most famous and luxurious cattle station properties is to undergo a $1.9 million refurbishment to reaffirm its iconic status in the Australian outback.

Voyages El Questro Homestead, located in The Kimberley region of North Western Australia, has contracted leading Sydney interior architects Pike Withers to carry out a complete refurbishment of the property.

Voyages has worked with Pike Withers on previous renovations including Wrotham Park Lodge, Voyages Bedarra and Wilson Islands and the Waldheim Spa at Voyages Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania.

The renovations will see The Homestead given more of a contemporary look and feel, with modern pieces set against rustic furnishings, and a complete upgrade of all the bathrooms, with outside balcony baths for three of the six bedrooms.

Recycled Western Australian timber, natural stone and fresh cream colours will be the backdrop throughout the six-bedroom property, offset with contemporary pieces including Italian Zanotta sofas, modern Italian ottomans in natural linens and woven cane chairs from Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola. [The Mole comments: Pity they could not be Australian!]

The guest bar, in the main Homestead lounge, will be repositioned to look out over the Homestead terrace and lawn, inviting guests to help themselves to drinks and mingle with fellow guests, in a similar style to the renowned and much-loved self-service bar at Voyages Bedarra Island.

The Chamberlain Suite, the largest of the six bedrooms perched above the Chamberlain Gorge, is undergoing a major refurbishment with slatted timber dividers introduced to provide greater privacy, triple wraparound sliding doors to create more of a ‘villa’ feel and an outside bathroom with a larger double deluxe bath tub allowing guests to relax in total privacy, overlooking the gorge below.

The popularity of the outside bath in the Chamberlain Suite will see the introduction of outside bathtubs on private decks in the two adjoining Chamberlain Gorge Rooms. These rooms will see the bathrooms extended to sit on the balcony, with the baths perched above the gorge below.

All rooms, including the remaining three Homestead Rooms, will undergo renovations to the bathrooms, with new wall tiles and glass fittings. Marble vanity tops will be introduced, along with new hand basins, fittings and frameless glass showers.

All six bedrooms will also feature new beds, made from recycled Australian timbers, and will include personalised mini-bars, catering to guests’ individual requirements.

Voyages Hotels and Resorts chief executive officer Chris Tallent said the upgrade would reaffirm El Questro Homestead’s position as the iconic outback cattle property in the Kimberley.

“El Questro Homestead already enjoys a fantastic reputation for Homestead-style luxury, exceptional dining and privacy all set within the breathtaking surroundings of the rugged Kimberley landscape. The renovations will simply enhance the Homestead, making it even more of an amazing, memorable holiday experience,” he said.

Amanda Pike, director of Pike Withers, added: “From the very first time we visited El Questro, I was blown away by the beauty of the Kimberley region. I really didn’t need any further inspiration; all we wanted was to translate this beauty into the interior of The Homestead.”

The renovations are being carried out now during the tropical wet season in time for El Questro Homestead to re-open on April 1.

A Report by The Mole