It’s been a seat-shuddering year for airlines.

For Singapore Airlines the devastation of the global travel tourniquet was laid bare on Friday, as the airline announced a Group revenue decline of $6,691 million (-80.4%) year-on-year to $1,634 million in the first half of the financial year.

This has been attributed to passenger traffic falling 98.9% amid tight global border controls and travel restrictions.

The airline also lacks the domestic cushion of the likes of Qantas, American Airlines, etc.

Though it was partially offset by stronger cargo flown revenue (up $274 million, or +28.3%) as countries sought to restore global supply chains, this barely made a dent overall.

The SIA Group swung to an operating loss of $1,863 million for the first half, a $2,276 million reversal from an operating profit of $413 million last year.

“For the first half ended 30 September 2020, the Group reported a net loss of $3,467 million, a drop of $3,673 million against last year,” Singapore Airlines announced.

This has been attributed to the aforementioned deterioration in operating performance, as well as three non cash items.

The first of the three (for the other two see the full release here), perhaps of most interest to airline lovers, is an impairment of $1,333 million on the carrying values of older generation aircraft, with 26 aircraft deemed surplus to fleet requirements after completion of a review of the longer-term network.

“These comprise seven A380s, four 777-200/200ERs, four 777-300s, nine A320s and two A319s.”

The seven A380’s make up just under 40% of Singapore Airlines’ 19-strong A380 fleet.

The ones retracted “will presumably from the older ‘original’ of the superjumbo fleet which introduced the airline’s private first-class suites,” Executive Traveller reports.

Singapore Airlines hinted at this cull in July, though nothing official came of it. Now the decision has been made, frequent flyer bloggers have taken to the internet to voice their thoughts.

One Mile At A Time blogger Ben Schlappig wrote “the airline just took delivery of five A380s within the past few years, featuring brand new cabins.”

In light of this, he predicts “there are definitely still going to be routes where there’s demand for A380s, like Singapore to London, Sydney, etc., and these are markets where Singapore Airlines wants a product advantage.”

Schlappig anticipates Singapore Airlines’ A380 service to New York will be on the chopping black, with the remaining A380s being used for nonstop key markets like London, Sydney Paris and Melbourne.

Singapore Airlines is not alone in culling cumbersome aircraft, which are only profitable with a booming customer base.

One Mile At A Time reports “pre-pandemic there were 14 airlines flying the Airbus A380.”

Now there are a lot fewer in the sky; according to One Mile At A Time, Air France has retired its 10 A380s, Lufthansa has retired its 14 A380s (with the option to reactivate them), Qatar Airways’ CEO has said the airline’s 10 A380s won’t fly for at least a couple more years, Etihad’s CEO has said the “jury is still out” on the airline’s 10 pA380s ever flying again and Qantas has said its 12 A380s won’t fly for at least several years.

Read Next

• Hidden Catch Behind Japan’s ‘Incredible’ Offer To Tourists
• Industry Experts Reveal WTF Is Going On With Qantas’ Grounded Fleet

The post Singapore Airlines Announcement Puts Another Nail In Coffin Of Magnificent Jet appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Is Instagram the new Sistine Chapel? If a tree falls in the woods and no one live streams it did it really happen? Do influencers have a moral obligation to “keep it real”?

Many complicated questions, few satisfactory answers.

That in mind: no one portrays exactly who they are on social media. Unless you’re a gritty comedian (in which you still play up your life, just in this case the bad aspects), it’s pretty standard to curate things for the better.

Some argue this is simply an extension of everyday life (you don’t go around telling supermarket checkout scanners your life story). Others argue it is a toxic vortex of crushing expectations, ruining our mental health (initiatives like R U Ok? Day suggest perhaps the two aren’t mutually exclusive).

DMARGE spoke to Monika Clarke, an Australian model based in New York, to understand how social media has become this “modern take on blockbuster movies” and the “warped reality” which leaves “someone left feeling lonely and misunderstood, while at the same time living a crazy blessed and cursed lifestyle, while fans watch on wanting to be them or be with them.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Monika Clarke (@monika.clarke) on Jun 29, 2020 at 2:46pm PDT

Though there’s undoubtedly some truth to this, opening up about how “Instagram isn’t real” has become such a clichéd thing to do it’s now – in many people’s eyes – rather than a brave, industry-leading thing to do – simply a marketing move for shameless clout clappers looking to assuage their own conscience and make a buck at the same time.

That’s the cynic’s take, anyway.

Clarke recently helped us add some nuance (and real-life experience) to the discussion, relaying to DMARGE what it’s really like to be a model, and run a high profile Instagram account, in The Big Apple.

According to Clarke, curating your image on Instagram isn’t inherently evil: “everyone can create their own personal brand, but it doesn’t mean that’s who they actually are.”

“I get that social media is a job for some people and I think so many others forget that.”

“Do I share all my hardships in a raw form on social media? Hell no. Should I? I don’t even know. I do try to be authentic in everything I post. I take images in the moment and share those.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Monika Clarke (@monika.clarke) on Mar 21, 2020 at 10:17am PDT

“There are people who gain a following for being true to who they are and they are a breath of fresh air. But remember: it’s still their highlight reel.”

“I don’t care for followers like a lot of others do,” Clarke added. “I don’t post half-naked photos all the time knowing that would gain me more followers. It’s not what I care about. I try and keep my image as real as I can. But people probably think I live the most glamorous and easy life.”

“Am I blessed? Yes! Is my life as easy as it seems on social? No! We all have things we are dealing with. We don’t all choose to showcase it and that’s ok. Everyone is dealing with something. So be kind. I am lucky that I don’t get much negativity online. But I know that I am not that controversial.”

That said, Clarke admits there are problems that arise from this culture: “I’ll be the first to say that social media is fake and misleading.”

“It is so hard to gauge someone’s personality or character based off their Instagram. I know influencers who seem so down to earth and amazing on their socials and when you get to know them they are rude, full of themselves and actually have no sense of humour.”

“Then there are people on social who come across a lot more reserved and maybe even boring, but in real life they are some of the most charismatic and inspiring people I know.”

“Everyone edits their images, everyone uses filters, is it healthy? The plain truth is no; no it is not. We are all caught up in an addiction without even admitting it. The more followers someone gets, the more pressure they feel. They get more love and hate at the same time. It’s a lot to deal with.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Monika Clarke (@monika.clarke) on Jul 8, 2020 at 9:45pm PDT

“My honest advice is to try to look at social as a form of expression or art, not a reality.”

Maybe Instagram is the Sistine Chapel of the 21st century after all.

Read Next

• Eugenie Bouchard Offers ‘Brutal’ Dating Lesson Every Man On Instagram Needs To Hear
• American Actress’ Risque Selfie Reveals The Woeful State Of Men’s Pick Up Game

The post Australian Model Explains Why Instagram Is The Sistine Chapel Of The 21st Century appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There must have been something in the water in Melbourne in the 80s, because the Hemsworth brothers might just form the greatest showbiz family in recent memory.

Middle brother Chris Hemsworth is easily the most famous, and one of the most famous actors (and fitness inspirations) in the world full stop: known for playing Thor in Marvel’s sprawling Cinematic Universe as well as the leading man in films like Extraction and Rush, he’s perhaps Australia’s most successful export since Crocodile Dundee.

That’s not to undersell his younger brother Liam and his older brother Luke, who are accomplished actors in their own right – the former known for his appearance in The Hunger Games trilogy and the latter known for his stint on long-running soap opera Neighbours.

With that much talent in the one family, you’d assume that family get-togethers would be quite the affair – and you’d be right. The clan recently celebrated Luke’s 40th birthday in Hollywood style with a Great Gatsby theme, dressed to the nines in 30s-inspired attire, as Chris shared on Instagram yesterday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Nov 7, 2020 at 5:27pm PST

One of the biggest problems when hosting a themed party is that inevitably someone skimps on their costume and ruins the vibe for everyone else. Thankfully, every member of the extended Hemsworth family stepped up to the plate in cracking form.

Eldest brother Luke looks particularly crisp, evoking a strong Peaky Blinders vibe with his slicked-back hair and menacing skull-shaped ring.

RELATED: David Beckham’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ Look Sums Up The Best Of British Style

The 1930s might have been a time of depressions and civil wars, but damn, the clothes were good. Everyone loves a good Great Gatsby party: it’s the perfect balance between fun, classy and easily achievable (as a guest, nothing’s more frustrating than having to figure out a costume for some obscure party theme).

The 30s aesthetic, however, is distinctive, but not difficult to throw together in a pinch. Case in point, Liam’s outfit – a tank top, trousers, suspenders and newsboy cap – nothing you can’t find at an H&M for less than a tenner.

Read Next

• Chris Hemsworth’s Birthday Bash Holds Subtle Nutrition Message
• Lewis Hamilton Throws Caution To The Wind With Flamboyant Double Denim Look

The post Hemsworth Family's 'Classy' Get-Together Proof This Party Theme Will Never Die appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s one of the biggest questions of our time: how much responsibility do consumers have for changing the system they eat in?

A recent statement posted by The New York Times best-selling author Max Lugavere, who boasts over 389,000 Instagram followers and another 20,300 Twitter followers, suggests it’s not as simple as voting with your dollar.

The outspoken nutritionist is a fierce advocate for omnivorous diets and regularly takes aim at the health claims ‘plant-based puppies’ espouse.

Among all the presidential noise, Lugavere took to Twitter to discuss the ethical quandaries of going plant-based, and how you’re better off just sticking to meat (in his opinion, anyway):

If you shop in a supermarket, you are on the grid and have a ‘cruelty’ footprint. Better to eat meat, nourish yourself, and use your dollars and voice to improve the system as a whole, IMO.

— Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) October 29, 2020

He then took to Instagram to expand upon his Tweet, further riling up social media.

“Here are some very admirable and valid reasons to not eat meat or other animal products: I don’t like the way they taste. I don’t like knowing I’m eating a dead animal. I have a specific health reason why I need to avoid X or Y (usually this will be a specific allergy). My religion forbids them.”

“Other than those very respectable, very valid reasons, I see little reason to avoid animal products. The industrial production of plants harms animals and people, from the tilling and harvesting that hurts or displaced countless field critters to the spraying of crops with chemicals which can harm birds or can run off into streams and harm fish, there is really no way to opt-out of harm today unless you grow your own food.”

He does admit that “there really isn’t solid data on the deaths incurred due to industrial plant agriculture.”

“Nonetheless, a recent paper “Field Deaths in Plant Agriculture” by Bob Fischer & Andy Lamey (2018) hold no punches in their assessment that a diet of exclusively industrially-farmed plants may actually yield MORE deaths: “it’s always possible that a diet that contains animal products is complicit in fewer deaths than a diet that avoids them.”

Needless to say, he attracted some staunch criticism.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) on Sep 27, 2020 at 12:49pm PDT

“Hey Max,” exercise physiologist Drew Harrisberg (@drews.daily.dose, 125k followers) asked. “Just wondering, why is your opinion so different to the scientific experts saying that a predominantly plant-based diet is best for the planet? The experts who use objective scientific measures to make recommendations are not aligned with your narrative at all.”

Others were less polite.

“I do eat meat but comparing cows and pigs to some critters is actually ridiculous. Your posts are getting a little polarized and arrogant lately and that‘s coming from somebody who subjectively leans towards your opinion,” one fan related.

“The constant attack on the meat-free lifestyle is irking,” another complained. “I am a vegetarian for multiple reasons including ethical, and I never criticize my carnivore friends and family. I wish you’d offer advice on how to eat healthier on a meat-free lifestyle instead of constantly making condescending remarks about it.”

They raise a good point – however right (or wrong) Lugavere is, you’re definitely not winning any favours by being a jerk. One of the biggest criticisms about vegans, for example, is that they’re too preachy. Lugavere might just be shooting himself in the foot by being preachy back.

But all of this is water off a duck’s back for the popular nutritionist. He clearly thrives off the debate. At least he shared a take that we can all agree with:

If only election anxiety burned calories.

— Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) November 4, 2020

Hopefully the US can find the time, once 2020 is over, to think with a little more nuance about their eating habits – both vegans and omnivores alike.

Read Next

• Australian CrossFit Athlete Proves You Can Smash Beers & Still Have A Six Pack
• Nutritionist Explains Why You Should Stop Fearing This Popular French Ingredient

The post Nutrition Coach’s 'Arrogant' Tweet Sparks Ethical Debate America Is Not Ready For appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Discovering unexplored sections of historic cities, meeting the love of your life, realising goon is not the same as wine; travelling has the potential to allow us to not only find out who we are, but to have little moments in time that simultaneously mean nothing and everything.Enter: the following Reddit thread, which shows why travel can be one of the best ways to restore your faith in humanity.The thread in question features an image of “One night in Montpellier, France”, posted by user ‘BeardedGlass’. It also features a comment from user ‘ksdio’, that relates a wholesome experience from their time visiting the French city.“I sat on the steps of the [Montpellier] Opera House there about 30 years ago. A French girl sitting next to me was reading a book and must have been moved as she started to cry.”

“I walked across to the MacDonalds [sic] and grabbed some tissues and went back and gave them to her. Her smile knocked me out. Haven’t thought about in decades.”

The story received a couple of comments, “Aww, that’s wholesome!” and “Is there a sub for stranger encounters which are wholesome like this?”.It also prompts the question: will we lose these sorts of interactions post Covid?In any case, the story got us digging, and it turns out that there is indeed a thread on Reddit dedicated to wholesome stories that could well make you rethink the way you act towards others.Many of the stories featured relate to people not having enough money to buy food or transport, or forgetting their wallet when it comes to time to pay, and people nearby or behind them in the queue offering to pay their bill for them.Others have much sadder outcomes,“When I was 18 I had a friend in the hospital with brain cancer. His time was limited. I visited him when I could. He was kind of hippie alternative punk. I wore a leather jacket and had long hair. I walked to his room, a nurse saw me. Without saying a word she walked to me and gave me a long comforting hug. That’s how I knew he passed.”Some stories will make you laugh,“Driving on the highway, the car in front of me suddenly swerved to take an exit, and then tried to swerve back on the highway, almost sideswiping me in the process. Luckily, I avoided an incident.”“When I drove past her and saw her face, I immediately knew she didn’t mean to, she was embarrassed and she already felt bad enough. So instead [of flipping her off or giving a thumbs down] I flashed her a huge smile, dramatically and jokingly wiped sweat away from my brow, and gave her a giant thumbs up. She smiled and laughed and honestly it’s one of my favourite moments in my life.”And stories like this next one will change the way you think about restaurant wait staff forever,“Once went out to a restaurant for a meal, earlier the same day we found out that one of my partner’s relatives had killed themselves.”“At the end of the meal, and many wines, my partner was visibly emotional, the waitress asked us if we were ok and saw that my partner was upset. We told her what had happened, she was shocked and it was obvious she really felt for my partner.”“A few minutes later, she came over with some limoncello shots and said ‘it’s on the house’. ‘I’m managing tonight, it’s little thing like this that make me like working here because I can make your night a bit better'”.“It gets even more lovely though, we asked her for the bill shortly after, and when it arrived it read £00.00 She had discounted the whole bill, putting it through as wastage.”“She could have kept herself to herself and ignored us, but that moment of kindness meant so much to us that day and turned it from a shitty day to a less shitty day.”There are some good people left in this world, it seems.

Read Next

• Solo Travellers Share Their Most Dangerous Adventure Stories
• Headspace’s Advice Proves Why ‘Self Care’ Is So Damn Important Right Now

The post Travellers Share Their Most Memorable 'Stranger Encounters' appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When you think about groups that attract ridicule in popular culture, many of them are food-related. Preachy vegans, keto warriors, cappuccino drinkers… Maybe it’s because food is such a universal part of the human experience; we just can’t help getting hot and bothered.

But the only group more insufferable than the ones previously mentioned are food snobs themselves. There’s nothing wrong with having a healthy interest in food or appreciating the finer things in life, but it’s when it becomes a sort of perverse – dare we say classist – competition of moral superiority that it starts to wear thin.

Naturally, you’d think that professional food critics would be some of the worst offenders when it comes to food snobbery: it’s literally their job to have opinions about food. But more often than not, it’s not the case.

Matt Preston is perhaps Australia’s most famous food critic. Known for his long stint as a judge on MasterChef Australia as well as his flamboyant taste in cravats and suits, the larger-than-life epicurean would seem to the uninitiated as the absolute picture of a food snob. Actually, Preston is more of a man of the people than you might think (cravats notwithstanding), who’s thoughts on what makes for the perfect meal dispel one of the pretentious assumptions that foodies often make.

Preston made this salient point earlier this year, answering “the eternal question” in an article for Escape:

“Where are the best places to eat in the world? Of course the answer is personal, shaped by your mood, experience, who is asking the question and, above all, who you were with – eating fried chicken in Seoul backstreets washed down with longnecks of beer and shots of soju shared with the next table of brand new friends… or settling in for an epic night with mates at a fine diner such as Disfrutar in Barcelona or Copenhagen’s Noma.”

RELATED: World’s Best Restaurant’s Radical Change Suggests Shakeup Imminent For Fine Dining

In short? It’s not how much you pay for a meal or where you’re eating is as much as it is who you’re enjoying the meal with.

Inherent in being a foodie (we’re guilty of this ourselves) is caring about location, price, prestige… otherwise, you’re just another diner. Therefore it’s something every foodie, to some degree, is guilty of.

“I think the price of the meal is only important in that it is relative… and how much of your weekly wage it represents,” Preston shared exclusively with DMARGE.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Matt Preston (@mattscravat) on Sep 22, 2020 at 2:40pm PDT

Some foodies also get conned by perceived ‘authenticity’ claims – a phenomenon which Preston also discussed with DMARGE.

“Food is a key to a place, the people and their history. I’m [just] as interested in this as the place/role a dish or place plays in the life of the person I am with, or the place where O am. I see there is more interest in this micro approach than naff authenticity claims for who, say, made the first chicken rice. Too often ‘cultural’ value is hijacked by naff marketeers (like the commercial salt cod fritters of Lisboa) and the dish bastardised by commercialisation.”

RELATED: The True Meaning Behind Anthony Bourdain’s Most Famous Quote

Indeed, marketing has a huge effect on how we perceive food experiences, and quite often it can be a bit of a sham. For example, most foodies would say that the only ‘real’ Sachertorte (a classic Austrian chocolate cake) is the one served at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna – that is, the five-star hotel that is its namesake. In reality, you can find decent Sachertorte all across the city, and across the world for that matter. And you certainly don’t need to pay the Hotel Sacher’s steep €8 a slice for a good one either…

Indeed, recent editions of the world-famous Michelin Guide have driven home how price and location aren’t the be-all and end-all of your food’s quality. In 2016, the Singapore edition of the ‘foodie bible’ introduced the first Michelin stars for street food locations, for Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle – unassuming food court eateries where you can pick up lunch for as little as $2.

Read Next

• I Tried Sydney’s Classiest Oyster Establishment & It Ruined Me For Life
• ‘Humble’ Photo Proves Why Our Coffee Drinkers Are The Best In The World

The post Famous Australian Food Critic Busts Pretentious Assumption All Foodies Make appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The politics of social media are as complex and infuriating as the ingredients list on the back of your local influencer’s detox tea.

One of the most self-damaging yet oddly satisfying social media phenomenons is ‘hate-following’: that is, continuing to follow someone on social media that you don’t like or that believe in things you disagree with. While it can be entertaining or simply make you feel better about yourself – and we’re all probably guilty of it to some degree (just look at how many Aussie millennials follow Clive Palmer on Facebook) – it can also take a toll on your brain box.

ABC Life spoke to academics at the University of Melbourne and Federation University about ‘hate-following’, who agreed that whilst it can provide a short-term endorphin rush and give you a soothing sense of catharsis, ultimately hate-following is bad for you in the long run.

“It might make our blood boil when we look at their posts, but we keep going back for more… you can start to feel worse about yourself. You might be scrolling, getting that anger rush, but then all of a sudden hours have gone by and you hate yourself more for that,” Dr Peggy Kern explains.

Like other addictions, it can cause a vicious cycle. Addictions can make you depressed, and when you’re depressed you’re more likely to engage in addictive behaviours, causing you to spiral, as ReachOut relates. Of course, let’s not conflate addictive behaviours with substance abuse – but it’s a similar sort of process.

Everyday I wake up and feel like twitter needs a button to differentiate between peeps you love and respect and peeps you #HateFollow

— Mark Isom (@markandrewisom) February 14, 2017

Sometimes hate-following is a necessity. Everyone’s got a relative with questionable political beliefs that you nevertheless keep on social media in the interests of keeping the peace around the dinner table. It might also be a professional requirement: maybe it’s your boss or coworkers, or maybe it’s about staying informed for work.

RELATED: Couples Resort To ‘Instagram Wars’ To Pass The Time In Isolation

“We may be curious about what makes [things] popular with others, because understanding what motivates those around us helps us survive in a social world,” Dr Pamela Rutledge from Fielding Graduate University told Women’s Health.

Read Next

• High-Class Escort ‘Samantha X’ Explains The Surprising Reason For OnlyFans’ Success
• Australia Facing Loneliness Crisis, Relationship Experts Confirm

The post 'Hate Following': The Toxic Instagram Habit You’re Probably Guilty Of appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’ve feared this was coming for a while now.

But like the loss of the 60s’ golden era of travel and hot meals in Virgin Australia business class (we kid, we – somewhat – kid), you only appreciate what you’ve got once it’s gone.

Qantas has decided to permanently close its service and sales desks at all airports and lounges, The Sydney Morning Herald reported this morning.

Qantas told staff the changes would be implemented in the first half of 2021, and that they are part of its COVID-19 cost-cutting efforts, as well as catering to the new way people want to travel, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

This is based on a note The Sydney Morning Herald saw, sent from Qantas’ executive manager of airports, Colin Hughes, to staff.

The note included the comments: “More people are choosing to self-manage their bookings, check in and boarding processes.”

“Their feedback, which is understandable in this environment, is that they prefer digital interactions over face to face contact.”

These changes may leave passengers with complicated bookings in a spot of bother, should they lose their baggage or have their flight delayed.

Why? Passengers will now have to deal with cancellations and last-minute booking changes either through a call centre or via a self serve kiosk.

Urgh. A few years ago I was caught in a complex situation involving a transfer, codeshare and delayed flight. A Qantas staffer on the service desk went to great effort to ensure I made that connection. A kiosk can’t replace that. https://t.co/1B4HGAKTuH

— Craig Platt (@CPtraveller) November 5, 2020

Though Qantas will keep staffed check-in desks, “lost-baggage counter hours will be cut in favour of ‘self-serve recovery’ and all other services will be self-managed as part of an overhaul one union says will make Qantas no better than Jetstar,” The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

According to The Queensland Times, “The industry union said the change would be a ‘nightmare for passengers.'”

Qantas rejects this idea that customer service will suffer, claiming the changes are designed in response to customer feedback.

“The main driver is an increasing shift towards people using our app to check in and manage their own bookings, particularly as we expand what the app can do,” Qantas’ executive manager of product and service, Phil Capps, said in a statement.

“This was happening before COVID but it has accelerated significantly since. Given that shift, we can’t ignore the efficiencies that come with removing the traditional sales desks, particularly in the current environment.”

It has been reported the cost-cutting strategy will result in 100 job losses (Qantas expects all to be voluntary redundancies) and was part of the previously announced 6000 cuts.

It also comes amid a context of wallet tightening across virtually all airlines, with Virgin Australia’s recent ‘Noodlegate‘ saga also coming under fire, with experts warning of the ‘Americanisation’ of the Australian aviation industry.

Read Next

• Business Class Passenger Kicked Off Flight After ‘Sneaky’ Act
• Hidden Benefits Of Flying First Class That Business Class Passengers Have No Idea About

The post Qantas Makes The Big Change Australian Flyers Have Been Dreading appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

As holiday destinations crumble around the world, the travel industry faces a $1 trillion dollar loss, and as the UN reports 100 million jobs are now at risk thanks to the Pangolin Parade, it’s refreshing to see there are still areas in which the business of travel is growing.

Enter: Cossack, a ghost town in Western Australia. Situated 1,300 kilometres north of Perth (a 16 hour drive or a few hour flight), Cossack was previously a gold rush town and a pearling port, before being left for dead in 1950.

It also has a dark history, with atrocities having been committed against Indigenous Peoples in the early days of WA’s pearling industry.

It now sits eerie, looked after by a caretaker, and sees the odd tourist visit, drawn by its National Trust listed bluestone architecture.

Now though, this abandoned town could be rejuvenated. As CNN reports, “Soon… Cossack could be brought out of hibernation, as plans are reportedly underway to develop it into a bigger tourist attraction complete with eco-tourism accommodation, cafes, galleries and camping facilities.”

Think: the Ubud of Western Australia’s North West.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (@hotelsandresorts) on Jun 30, 2020 at 2:52am PDT

Cossack is also just a short (by Western Australia standards) 8-hour drive from Gnarloo, a famous Western Australia desert surf spot, which receives the same huge swells as Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.

Of course, the ‘Eco Eden’ transformation is still very much only an idea, and even if it were to succeed its remoteness would mean it wouldn’t be exactly like Ubud.

But who’s to say a vibrant, eco-friendly community can’t come out of it?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Allard Komdeur (@allard.travels) on May 3, 2020 at 8:09pm PDT

It’s certainly the sort of thing that would make waves on Instagram, in this quirky, aesthetic obsessed era.

“Despite its remote perch in the northwest of Western Australia (WA), Cossack is in a prime location within the Pilbara region’s tourism triangle of Coral Bay, Karratha and Karijini National Park,” CNN reports.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Kimberley & Pilbara (@australiasnorthwest) on Nov 3, 2020 at 2:00am PST

“Developing Cossack has been debated for decades, but it wasn’t until late October 2020 that progress was finally made,” (CNN).

Cossack is also a gateway to the iconic Jarman Island Lighthouse and some of the North West’s top fishing spots.

Commercial Real Estate reports authorities have released a document asking investors to register interest in developing the town (which must be done in adherence with heritage and Indigenous land use agreements).

“The WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has enlisted LJ Hooker Karratha and LJ Hooker Commercial Perth to conduct a registrations of interest campaign for the 22-hectare site, and they are on the hunt for proposals that will bring social and economic benefits to the state’s north west.”

Though the town is part of a dark period of Australia’s history, some hope it can now be part of a more positive story. It also provides a glimpse into the near future of domestic travel in Australia – an industry slated to see a boom, as international travel has become more expensive.

Natasha Mahar, CEO of WA’s North West Tourism Board spoke to CNN about the success of the town’s annual Cossack Art Awards, which have exhibited artworks from across the Pilbara region, including many incredible Indigenous works, for the last 28 years. These kinds of events are what the proposed rejuvenation of Cossack could build on.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pablo Miller | Triple M 102.5 (@pablo__miller) on Jul 26, 2020 at 1:09am PDT

“Outside that three weeks of the awards festival, Cossack is pretty much abandoned so it’d be great to see the town developed in a sustainable way so it can be vibrant all year round,” Mahar told CNN.

“Telling the story of Cossacks’ pearling from an Aboriginal perspective would be a great tourism initiative here,” Mahar added.

“When you walk around this empty place and see all its beautiful old buildings you feel drawn to understand its history, why it was abandoned.”

According to Commercial Real Estate, “Anna Guillesserok, LJ Hooker Karratha sales executive, said the unique offering had so far generated a large amount of interest from overseas buyers, as well as from Perth tourism businesses.”

“I think it’s going to be an excellent site for someone to develop as far as tourism goes. I think it rivals Karijini [National Park] for what it has to offer.”

“What makes it rare is that it has so much land around it and raw, natural beauty.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Charlotte + James Maddock (@cjmaddock) on Oct 25, 2020 at 2:30am PDT

Read Next

• The Little Known Tropical Travel Bubble Most Australians Have No Idea About
• The Wilderness Skill Australians Think They Know But Really Don’t

The post Western Australia Town Cossack Slated For 'Ubud Like' Transformation appeared first on DMARGE Australia.