This Retreat in the Margaret River Bushland Puts the Quiet in Quiet Luxury

Sangeeta Kocharekar

9 months ago

One of WA’s newest accommodations is a retreat sleeping up to 34 guests on three hectares of bush and farmland in Margaret River. Chambré Estate is a transformed retreat, previously Marri Lodge, now owned by Jessica and Michael Dodd.

“Both Michael and I grew up in the Margaret River region, and it’s a pretty special place,” says Jessica. “It has world-class surf, beach and wine, so we thought, why not create some luxurious accommodation to go with that?”

The original property, she says, was quite old and truly an eyesore. The previous owner completed all of the interior renovations, and then the Margaret River Properties Design team came in and, as Jessica puts it, worked its magic.

Guests at Chambré Estate are surrounded by 200-year-old Marri trees and, from their rooms, overlooking parkland, paddocks and a dam. They can come as a couple or in a group and dine at a long table in the property’s olive grove or have dinner in the lodge’s main house by the fire.

“Guests can also soak in our wood-fired hot tubs overlooking stunning bushland or go for a cold water plunge in the dam,” says Jessica. “You can access mountain bike trails right on our doorstep or head across the road for a wine tasting at Stella Bella. Spend your evening with a glass of wine in hand under the stars at our outdoor firepit.”

The estate has eight suites, including a honeymoon suite and four cabins. All guests have access to a central lodge lounge area, three wood-fired tubs, a dam and an olive grove. A sauna will be opened in January 2024. Guests can wander the property’s trails, immersing themselves in the wilderness or bring some snacks and picnic by the dam.

Along with the property’s full renovation, new furniture and homewares were sourced, too, including rugs from Milk and Sugar, a mirror in the honeymoon suite from local Perth supplier Granite Lane and wallpaper in the suite from Olive Et Oriel. Bedside tables in all the rooms are by Empire Home, and the bed heads were custom-upholstered and designed by the Dodds.