Australis Art

Australis Art is a gallery in Kuranda, 25 kilometres northwest of Cairns, set within the mountain retreat’s World Heritage Rainforest surroundings. At an altitude of about 400 metres, it offers a cultural stop alongside Kuranda’s natural setting, with a collection focused on handmade Australian art rather than mass-produced decor.

The gallery brings together colourful and quirky paintings, blown and formed glass, pottery, ceramic sculpture, opals and jewellery. A particular point of interest is its selection of Australian opals, sourced from locations including Coober Pedy, Opalton, Quilpie, Yohah and Lightning Ridge. The collection includes several varieties, such as crystal, black, boulder, matrix, fossil, white, jelly, Koroit and dendritic opals.

The work is connected to a range of Australian artists and makers. Paintings are primarily exhibited by Ludo Collingwood and Richard Bogusz, while Valerie Willy is represented through raku pottery and Julie Maddocks through porcelain. Other highlights noted by the gallery include pottery by Bainbrige Island Pottery, a glass orb by Jonathon Westacott, and formed glass by In Spirit Glass Design and Meg Caslake. Ludo’s artwork is also available to view and order through the gallery’s website.

Australis Art suits visitors who enjoy browsing original work, learning about different materials or looking for an Australian-made piece to take home. It can work as a quiet solo visit, a stop for art-focused travellers or an outing for small groups who want to explore painting, glass, ceramics and opals in one place. The gallery’s stated aim is to connect people with art, and its varied collection gives visitors several ways to do that, from the colour and character of the paintings to the natural patterning of the opals and the hand-shaped quality of the glass and pottery. It is located at 40 Coondoo Street, Kuranda, and the website lists visits from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm, with Mondays closed.