A stopping place on this road for nearly a century.
Built 1934. Telephone exchange, bus stop, petrol bowser, Devonshire teas. Two Pines Café. Natural Arch Café. Closed. And now — coming back to life.
A long history on this road
Built in 1934 as a private house looking toward the eastern edge of Lamington National Park. Over the decades it was the local telephone exchange, the bus stop, and for a time had a petrol bowser. For many years it was Two Pines Café, later Natural Arch Café — one of the oldest stopping places on the road to Natural Bridge. Locals and travellers sat on the verandah for Devonshire teas, homemade burgers, steak sandwiches and long conversations while the rainforest breathed around them.
Reactivated by community
After COVID the café closed and the site sat dormant for about five years. The previous owner completed a substantial internal renovation and secured Development Approval MCU/2024/229 for a Tourist Park. In 2026 the next chapter began through The Arch Compound Unit Trust / Regenerative Living Co structure, and the lease to Grounded followed. The same community that has been regenerating land in this valley for nearly a decade is bringing it back. We opened in July 2026 — Stage 1 of a longer masterplan.
A living project, not a finished product
We're working within the approved framework toward a living village of natural building — and a proper hall, the first meeting and cultural space for Natural Bridge. Firefly Lodge is one node in a mycelium network of Regenerative Living Hubs. None of it is bookable today. It's history being honoured, land being tended, and a future being grown together.
We are Grounded.
Firefly Lodge is operated by Grounded Permaculture Action Party Inc. — a Queensland not-for-profit, incorporated in 2017. We live Permaculture. We take Action. We love to Party. Our mission is to regenerate our sacred connection to country, community and culture.
The same people have been regenerating land in this valley for nearly a decade. This is the community bringing the old café back.
“Firefly Lodge is not a finished product. It is a living project — history being honoured, land being tended, and a future being grown together.”