Luxury lodge operator Beckons has received approval to build a new lodge adjacent to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, its first new-build project since the brand launched in March 2026.
The approval follows ecological, heritage and sacred site assessments, along with consultation with Traditional Custodians through the Yulara Aṉangu Corporation, the governing body representing Aṉangu Traditional Owners connected to Yulara and the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa region.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with an opening planned for early 2028. The lodge name and further details will be released as construction plans are finalised.
The nine-suite property will include eight Desert Suites and one Desert Pavilion, each with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Uluṟu, along with private plunge pools and daybeds. The lodge will be built into the dune landscape near Longitude 131°, another property in the Beckons portfolio.
JAWS Architects designed the lodge using ironbark timber, rammed earth walls, Corten steel and red marble sourced from the Pilbara. The pavilions will follow the natural contours of the site and will be partially constructed off-site before installation.
Shared facilities will include a restaurant, lounge, bar, wine cellar, boutique and an infinity pool.
Each suite will feature a commissioned artwork interpreting Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters), a story from Aṉangu culture. Beckons said the works reflect partnerships with art centres including Ernabella Arts, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Tjala Arts and the APY Centre Collective.
Beckons chief executive officer Michael Crawford said the lodge would offer guided experiences focused on the region’s cultural and natural history.
“At Beckons, the most memorable journeys are those that create a genuine connection to place. At Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa, that means offering guests personally guided experiences that reveal the ancient stories of Country and sky, and the enduring cultural significance of this extraordinary landscape,” Crawford said.
The new lodge adds to Beckons’ Australian portfolio, which includes Southern Ocean Lodge, Longitude 131°, Capella Lodge, Silky Oaks Lodge and The Louise. The company also operates Huka Lodge in New Zealand, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in Canada, and Tierra Atacama and Tierra Patagonia in Chile.
Beckons said it planned to expand its lodge portfolio into new destinations beyond Australia.
While operationally, the business is led by Crawford, original founders James Baillie and Hayley Baillie remain closely associated with the brand and its design philosophy.
In 2019, KSL Capital Partners Beckons – a Denver-based private equity firm specialising in travel and hospitality investments – acquired a majority stake in their Baillie Lodges, including Capella Lodge, through a joint venture with the founders, funding its international expansion.
The company subsequently acquired properties including Huka Lodge and Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, before purchasing a majority interest in Tierra Hotels in 2022.
In 2026, Baillie Lodges and Tierra Hotels were unified under the new global brand Beckons, which now operates nine luxury lodges across Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Canada.
In Australia, the business continues to operate through Baillie Lodges Pty Ltd, which registered the “Beckons” business names in February 2026.
