Akurra's Gift: The Story Behind the Oasis Eco‑Villa Artworks
21 07 2026
As work progresses on our new Oasis Eco‑Villas, we're delighted to unveil a special part of the guest experience - two bespoke artworks commissioned exclusively for the project. Inspired by the extraordinary landscapes of the Flinders Ranges, each piece reflects a deep connection to Country and celebrates the stories, colours and character of this remarkable region. Together, they will help create a sense of place that is uniquely Rawnsley, connecting guests to the landscape long before they step outside their villa.
Akurra's Gift - Rawnsley Park Station
Akurra’s Gift – Rawnsley Park Station and Akurra’s Gift - The Bluff are companion paintings by Rehanna Coulthard; an Adnyamathanha woman raised on Adnyamathanha Yarta (Country) in the Northern Flinders Ranges. Immersed in culture from a young age, she learned from her Elders through daily life on Country. These teachings continue to inform her practice as an artist and cultural guide, through which she shares Adnyamathanha knowledge.
The works offer a contemporary aerial interpretation of Ikara, meaning “meeting place”, the traditional name for Wilpena Pound. Together, they map the surrounding landscape of Rawnsley Park Station and Ikara, tracing the ancient forms of the ranges and the cultural story held within them. For Adnyamathanha people, Ikara Wilpena Pound was created by the two Akurra, serpent creator beings whose movements shaped the ranges and carved the land. These works honour both the physical form and cultural significance of Ikara, sitting alongside contemporary life at Rawnsley Park Station, where visitors come to experience the richness of this extraordinary region.
Akurra's Gift - The Bluff