Art of Place: Local and First Nations Art at Baillie Lodges and Tierra Hotels

Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Northern Territory

At the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, Longitude 131° offers an unforgettable cultural experience, shaped by the lodge’s close working partnership with Ernabella Arts in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, the Tjunpi Desert Weavers and other art centres in the vast Central Deserts region. Throughout the lodge, artworks by First Nations artists including Carlene Thompson – whose piece Kalaya Ngura (Emu Country) now hangs in the Dune House – bring Country to life.

Handcrafted ceramic tiles painted by Ernabella artists line the help-yourself bar, while vibrant ceramic vases, canvas artworks and the Kulata wooden spears in Spa Kinara are all handcrafted by Ernabella community members. These artwork commissions form part of a long-term relationship with Longitude 131° that also includes a well-loved artists-in-residence program. On five occasions each year, artists travel from Ernabella to stay and work at the lodge, offering guests a chance to meet the artists, watch their process, and even purchase works directly. It’s a program that benefits everyone, with artwork commissions providing income to the community while offering guests a rare and genuine cultural exchange.

Since 2016, Baillie Lodges has supported the Ernabella community with $50,000 annually, helping fund a dedicated ceramics mentor to guide the artists to build a sustainable, commercially viable practice. The artists’ presence at the lodge – and their striking works throughout guest tents, the Dune House and Spa Kinara – continue to be a highlight for guests.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Reopened in late 2023 following devastating bushfires nearly four years prior, Southern Ocean Lodge presents a spirit of renewal and regeneration in both architecture and art. Artworks across the property speak to the island’s identity, from assemblage artist Janine Mackintosh’s bold mandalas created with leaves, seeds and seashells gathered from Kangaroo Island’s coastal wilderness to sculptural works created by found-object artist the late Indiana James.

Indiana’s sculpture Sunshine, a metal kangaroo made from a reclaimed harvester, survived the 2020 bushfires and now once again greets guests in the Great Room, while a more recent work, Lyre Lyre Pans on Fire is a beautiful lyrebird created from salvaged spoons, forks and pans from the lodge site in the days after the fire.

A special feature of Southern Ocean Lodge is the inclusion of works by three members of the same South Australian family: glass artist Llewellyn Ash, whose organic, light-catching sculptures appear throughout guest suites and in the walk-in wine cellar; his mother, painter and printmaker Janet Ayliffe, whose original watercolours of the Kangaroo Island coast are found in each Flinders Suite. Her husband, and Ash’s father Glen Ash created a foil triptych that hangs in the Osprey Suite and depicts an osprey cruising above the Southern Ocean. Together, their works reflect the island’s natural biodiversity and deep connection to the wild landscape, bringing warmth and depth to the stories of the place.

Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

Set along the Mossman River in the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, Silky Oaks Lodge draws creative inspiration from the Traditional Owners of the region, the Kuku Yalanji people. Artworks commissioned through Yalanji Arts include a compelling collection of some 45 handmade portraits installed along the breezeway between reception and the Treehouse Restaurant. Each work represents local wildlife – possums, pademelons, cassowaries and more – which are in turn linked to the lodge’s suite names.

Artist Catherine Nelson’s hypnotic landscape artworks also feature throughout the guest lounging areas at the lodge. Using digital tools like a paintbrush, Catherine’s multi-panel installation follows the course of the Mossman River, capturing the layered complexity of rainforest and waterway, with young Kuku Yalanji playing joyfully in the shallows. The Healing Waters Spa, with its gently flowing design and reverence for the healing powers of the river’s pure-enough-to-drink waters, continues the story.

The Louise, Barossa Valley, South Australia

In the wine-rich Barossa Valley, The Louise is home to a gallery-like collection of South Australian art. Works by Nicole Eliza and Lise Temple explore the colours, contours and emotion of the surrounding vineyards and farmlands, while Janelle Amos’s vivid works – including the oculus-like Restore – offer a moment of reflection and stillness.

Guests arriving at The Louise are greeted by Gum and Galah, a vibrant summer scene printed in layers by Emma Hack, while the Prussian blue cyanotypes by Renee de Saxe introduce a blend of charcoal drawing and digital technology. Through a partnership with the nearby Wonderground Barossa, The Louise also hosts rotating exhibitions in its gallery, allowing guests the chance to purchase artworks and support the region’s creative community.

Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

On Lord Howe Island, Capella Lodge channels a relaxed coastal spirit through bold graphic works and island-inspired textiles. The late artist Bruce Goold – known for his artworks in the Mambo surf brand – has designed original linocuts and screen prints that feature throughout the lodge. Bruce’s iconic SS Makambo linocut, which tells the story of shipwrecked rats swimming to the island overseen by the ship’s Captain Ratty, is proudly displayed in the Makambo Loft.

Soft furnishings made from Bruce’s Lord Howe Island Kentia Palm print, along with natural plywood artworks by Julie Paterson of ClothFabric, create a laidback, beach house feel. Julie’s illustrations of the island’s woodhens and palms reflect her ethos of sustainability and local storytelling through fabric.

Huka Lodge, Taupō, New Zealand

Set on the banks of the Waikato River, Huka Lodge is home to a rich and eclectic art collection. Gilt-framed oil paintings, portraits of Māori leaders, and beautiful botanical profiles sit alongside vibrant textiles and antique curios, creating a country-luxe aesthetic. The art collection at Huka Lodge has grown organically over the decades, and each piece feels like part of the story. The lodge celebrates the artistry of Aotearoa with integrity and charm, quietly showcasing works that honour cultural legacy while offering guests something new to discover around each corner.

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, Vancouver Island, Canada

This remote luxury outpost sits at the edge of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations people are the Traditional Custodians. Artworks in the guest tents include colourful bentwood boxes by Tla-o-qui-aht artist Moy Sutherland, created using traditional techniques and salvaged local timber.

These pieces, along with natural textures and handmade furnishings by Canadian designers, ground the guest experience in place. Here, wild luxury meets genuine respect. The design choices reflect the principles of stewardship and cultural connection that define Clayoquot’s approach to hospitality.

Tierra Atacama, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

High in the Altiplano of northern Chile, Tierra Atacama is surrounded by vast desert and its ancient history. Its refurbishment in 2025 saw more than 40 local artists and designers contribute bespoke works to the interiors; ceramics, woven pieces and carved stone that speak to the Incan and Aymará heritage of the region.

Craftsmanship is woven into every element, from the travertine sourced from nearby Calama to the locally dyed textiles and adobe textures that echo traditional building methods. The result is a lodge that feels grounded and graceful, an oasis of art and connection in the world’s driest desert.

Tierra Patagonia, Torres del Paine, Chile

At the edge of Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra Patagonia blends its sleek timber form into the Patagonian steppe, while inside, artworks speak of the Mapuche people, Chile’s largest First Nations community. From woolen weavings to carved wood and tactile ceramics, each piece has been selected to reflect the power and poetry of this magnificent landscape.

Across our luxury lodges, art is more than aesthetics – it is an extension of our culture and an essential part of the guest experience. It’s a genuine welcome, the start of a conversation, a quiet moment of recognition. And as guests settle in and explore each thoughtfully designed space, they’re invited not just to observe, but to feel something real, something lasting: a sense of place.