DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PC×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Berkeley River Lodge Was Uninsured After Cyclone Fina: What the Owners Reported

Berkeley River Lodge was uninsured when Cyclone Fina damaged the resort in November 2025, according to co-owner Rachel Bromage. The initial report described three villas destroyed or beyond repair and set out the owners’ reopening plan.
From TheFinanceBase Team2 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Berkeley River Lodge was uninsured when Tropical Cyclone Fina damaged the remote Western Australian resort in November 2025, according to co-owner Rachel Bromage as quoted by PerthNow on 27 November 2025. Bromage said insurance premiums had become unsustainable. The owners’ initial assessment described three of the lodge’s 18 villas as destroyed or beyond repair, alongside damage to other buildings and failed water and power services.

Why was Berkeley River Lodge uninsured?

Co-owner Rachel Bromage told PerthNow that the premiums had become unaffordable for the business: “The (insurance) premiums just became unsustainable and at some point you have to balance the risk with viability.” The report attributed the lodge’s uninsured status and this explanation to Bromage; it did not provide an independent account of the property’s insurance history or policy decisions.

Bromage also said the staff accommodation and shed were not built to cyclone rating and would not withstand winds “of up to 260km/h.” That was her description in the report, not an independently verified measurement of wind speed at the lodge or an engineering assessment of those structures.

What damage did Cyclone Fina cause?

PerthNow reported that Fina struck Berkeley River Lodge on the northeast Kimberley coast on 24 November 2025 as a Category 3 system. In the early assessment reported three days later, Bromage said three guest villas were beyond repair; Saltwater Properties owner Chris Banson said, “Three of the 18 villas are completely destroyed.” The report does not reconcile the two descriptions, so the figure is best understood as an initial account rather than a final damage tally.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Emergency Survival Kit for Hurricane, Storm, Tornado, El Nino Preparedness
  • Prepare Now for the El Nino Storm Season: El Nino pushes storms closer to the U.S. coast, leaving as little as 48 hours to prepare. Backup supplies when weather catches you off guard
  • Hand-Assembled in New England: Designed by a disaster professional and assembled by a real person, not a faceless factory. Every kit checked by hand before it ships
  • Emergency Lifeline When You're Stuck: For flash floods, closed roads, or power outages when you can't reach a store. Below-average hurricane forecast for El Niño doesn't mean no risk-the storm that hits may arrive faster and closer to home
  • Upgraded 2026 Version: Premium lined and insulated rain poncho replaces economy version plus expanded comfort kit for extended emergencies
  • Comfort-Focused Emergency Kit: Beyond basic first aid with bandages, bacitracin, lip balm, alcohol wipes, PLUS hand lotion and dental pick

The lodge had 18 villas and capacity for 36 guests, according to the report. Other villas had roof or exterior-cladding damage. Banson also described damage to the central lodge, extensive damage to staff accommodation, and water and power services that were no longer operating. The owners were still assessing the full extent of the loss.

The two caretakers were unharmed. The resort had already closed for its seasonal break, so no visitors were affected, PerthNow reported.

Rank #2
Sirius Survival Pre-Packed Hurricane Kit - Comprehensive Hurricane Preparedness Items - Essential Hurricane Supplies - Complete Hurricane Supply List in a Waterproof Bag for 2 People (Deep Blue Camo)
  • Comprehensive Hurricane Kit: This pre-packed hurricane kit includes all the essential hurricane preparedness items for home safety, such as a hurricane lantern, hurricane food, and a hurricane radio weather radio, ensuring you are fully prepared for any emergency.
  • Waterproof and Durable Bag: Conveniently packed in a waterproof bag, this hurricane emergency kit is designed to protect your hurricane supplies for home from water damage, ensuring that all your essential hurricane preparedness items remain dry and functional.
  • Designed for Two People: Our hurricane kit emergency for home is thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of two people, including enough hurricane preparedness items food, water and hurricane lights for indoor use, providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
  • Essential Hurricane Gear: This kit includes a variety of essential hurricane items such as a led hurricane camping lantern, hurricane phone charger, and emergency hurricane supplies to ensure that you have all the necessary tools for effective hurricane preparedness.
  • Emergency Communication Tools: Stay informed with the included hurricane radio weather radio, an indispensable part of your hurricane supplies. This radio ensures that you receive critical updates and alerts, making it a vital component of your hurricane emergency kit.

What was known about reopening?

When PerthNow published its report on 27 November 2025, the owners said they hoped to open for the 2026 season, then scheduled to begin on 1 May, alongside a planned refurbishment. That was their plan at the time, not confirmation that the lodge reopened on that date.

A traveler review on the lodge’s TripAdvisor listing, dated May 2026, describes a stay and post-cyclone rebuilding and refurbishment. This is a user-generated account, not an official operating update; it does not establish current availability or booking status.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Does the later Fina insurance-claims figure mean the lodge was paid?

No. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s June 2026 insurance monitoring report said the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation had paid approximately A$2.3 million in gross claims relating to Fina as at 31 January 2026. That figure covers claims relating to the cyclone, which affected the Northern Territory and northeast Kimberley coast; it is not a payment figure for Berkeley River Lodge and does not establish that the lodge received a claim payment.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How the event was dated

The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation’s formal instrument records the Fina cyclone event as beginning at 11:00 AM AEST on 19 November 2025. PerthNow’s account concerns the system’s impact on the lodge on 24 November. These dates refer to different milestones in the event, not conflicting reports of when the resort was struck.

Rank #4
Kaito Voyager V3 Emergency Radio - AM/FM NOAA Weather Alert 4-Way Powered Solar Crank Radio Receiver with LED Flashlight and USB 4,000 mAh Mobile Phone Charger (Yellow)
  • 4-way powered portable emergency radio with hand crank generator, solar panel, 5V USB C input (USB cable included), and 2 Li-ion rechargeable batteries, (2,000 mAh each)
  • Comprehensive coverage of local AM/FM for entertainment, sports, talk-shows, breaking news around the world, plus 7-channel 24/7 real-time weather forecast with emergency alert
  • Compact and lightweight design featuring an LED flashlight with 3-level brightness adjustment, a 6-LED reading lamp, and a mobile charger with dual 5V USB output ports for charging mobile phones and other gadgets, compatible with both iOS and Android devices, a must-have for emergency and disaster preparedness, such as power outage, earthquakes, hurricanes, and etc., also suitable for home/office use and outdoors recreational activities
  • Telescopic antenna extends up to 17" for high sensitivity reception assisted by advanced semiconductor circuitry design; built-in speaker for loud and crispy sound
  • 1-year USA manufacturer’s warranty with a company headquarter in greater Los Angeles area and a toll-free hotline for bi-lingual (English/Spanish) technical support and warranty services

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.