The new accommodation, due to be complete in 2027, is the first in Australia for Abercrombie & Kent, which has various luxury accommodation developments across Africa, Italy and Peru.
The lodge is being delivered in collaboration with the Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation which represents the Traditional Owners of the area.
“This is a significant milestone for our community,” said the Billingjul Aboriginal Corporation of the eco-lodge development.
“We are excited to be partnering with the WA Government and Abercrombie & Kent, and look forward to sharing our culture with the world.
“The economic and cultural tourism opportunities from this partnership will help support our long held aspirations to both live and work on Country.”
Western Australia’s environment minister, Reece Whitby said the government would continue to work closely with Traditional Owners to preserve the state’s landscape and showcase Indigenous cultures that had been living on the land for more than 60,000 years.
“Purnululu National Park is a one-of-a-kind environment, home to the 350 million-year-old Bungle Bungle Ranges, spectacular Echidna Chasm and Cathedral Gorge,” he said.
“This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is a jewel of the Kimberley, and we’re thrilled to be working with Abercrombie & Kent to create a sensitive, environmentally conscious accommodation offering for guests.”
The WA Government is also seeking to drive accommodation development in the West Kimberley, in collaboration with the Traditional Owners there, with three sites available in Bunuba Country. The government is currently taking registrations of interest to develop these sites.
High end accommodation developments in unique Australian settings are a potential pull for local and international incentive groups looking for the new and undiscovered.
