The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
TUD CELEBRATES QLD STATE OF ORIGIN VICTORY 2-FOR-1 URBANITY TICKET DEAL - BUY TODAY
CELEBRATING QLD STATE OF ORIGIN VICTORY 2-FOR-1 URBANITY TICKET DEAL
GET DISCOUNTDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
print
Print
HotelLeon Della BoscaThu 03 Jul 25

Rumi Resort Plots Cabins for Villas Switch on SA Island

Rumi on Louth Villa aerial view

A luxury resort developer has lodged a planning variation to replace four approved villas with 22 smaller cabins as part of a strategy to broaden its tourism market appeal.

Ika Shima Pty Ltd, trading as Rumi on Louth, secured planning approval for 26 villas alongside a day spa and recreational facilities on the exclusive island resort near Port Lincoln in February, and has now applied to modify part of that development.

The variation replaces four of the 26 approved villas with 22 smaller cabins.

The remaining 22 luxury villas would proceed as approved, creating a mixed accommodation offering to capture budget-conscious and luxury market segments, the developer said.

The luxury villas planned are earth-sheltered structures built into constructed sand dunes, and designed to be all but invisible in the island landscape.

Each would feature private outdoor spas and fire pits, and be sited across the southern end of the island to ensure no other infrastructure is visible from the individual properties.

Rumi on Louth aerial view of two villas
▲ Rendering of the luxury villas designed to blend with the island landscape.

Planners said this approach would “enhance the financial success of the development” by catering to a broader market demographic, as well as creating environmental benefits to appeal to sustainability-conscious travellers.

Each 20sq m cabin would accommodate two guests, and offer a more compact alternative across the 135ha island development.

This would increase guest capacity for a portion of the development while maintaining the overall luxury positioning of the resort, the planners said.

Environmental considerations have also driven the design rethink, with native vegetation clearance reduced by nearly 70 per cent under the revised proposal.

The cabins would disturb just 0.26ha compared to 0.84ha required for the villa configuration—a reduction that is expected to help with stringent environmental approvals.

Rumi on Louth luxury villa by day
▲ Rendering of an earth-sheltered villa on Louth Island.

The elevated cabin design promises faster construction timelines also, potentially bringing forward revenue generation for the $20-million, second-stage development.

Each structure would sit on central piers to minimise earthworks, with timber cladding and low-reflective materials designed to blend into the landscape.

Planning consultant URPS is steering the variation application through the State Planning Commission. The proposal has been classified as performance-assessed development that bypasses public notification requirements.

The remote island eliminates concerns about neighbouring objections that often complicate mainland tourism developments.

The resort already operates a successful $30-million first stage that opened in early 2024, accommodating about 20 guests as well as fine dining facilities.

Rumi on Louth Samphire Restaurant
▲ Samphire Restaurant at Rumi on Louth has been awarded two hats by the Australian Good Food Guide.

Existing infrastructure includes solar power systems, desalination plants and boat transport for guests accessing the remote island location.

Adelaide tech entrepreneur Che Metcalfe purchased the island after a 12-month negotiation with its previous owners, using proceeds from the $3.6-billion sale of telecommunications company Uniti Group in 2022.

Metcalfe, who reportedly netted more than $40 million from his shareholding, had long had dreams of island ownership before purchasing and turning the former sheep run into a luxury eco-resort.

Metcalfe initially indicated plans for the resort to accommodate 60 to 70 guests at full capacity across both development stages, with the cabin model appearing to support those visitor numbers.

The second stage would retain all previously approved recreational facilities including tennis courts, outdoor gymnasium areas, yoga and meditation spaces, plus the addition of a Japanese-inspired day spa with plunge pools and saunas.

1 of 4


The development team includes Archaea Architects and ecology consultant Succession Ecology.

Construction is expected to begin soon after approval. Existing infrastructure is adequate to support the expanded accommodation.

South Australia’s luxury tourism sector is on the rise, and operators are targeting regional destinations to meet evolving traveller demands.

On the mainland, IHG Hotels and Resorts has signed to operate a $100-million InterContinental resort in the Barossa Valley, scheduled to open in 2028.

HotelAdelaidePlanningProject
AUTHOR
Leon Della Bosca
More articles by this author
linkedin icon
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Freecity Rouse Hill triple towers 2 Tempus Street
Exclusive

Freecity Takes Covers Off $330m Triple Towers in Sydney’s North-West

Leon Della Bosca
5 Min
Parallel Workshops Stockdale Housing PBSA project
Exclusive

Suburban Success Story Turns PBSA Thinking on its Head

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
Exclusive

Interstate Developers Find Lots to Love in ‘Progressive, Affordable’ SA

Taryn Paris
5 Min
Bates Smart Richmond Sportslink HERO
Exclusive

BtR Focus Drives Bates Smart’s Richmond Sportslink Concept

Leon Della Bosca
6 Min
Exclusive

Carparking Correlation: How Parking Fees Provide Office Sector Health Check

Taryn Paris
6 Min
View All >
Genton Architects' rendering of the East Village Sunbury project by Birchmore and IDA on Lancefield Road in Sunbury, Victoria.
Retail

Retail Centre Moves Ahead as Sunbury Prepares for Growth

Marisa Wikramanayake
Bridgewater Gagebrook Brighton Derwent River from Granton
Planning

Scheme to Unlock 362 Lots in Tasmania Revealed

Leon Della Bosca
Maroochydore Habitat The Millwell render hero
Residential

Midrise Project Breaks Ground as Sunshine Coast Ramps Up

Phil Bartsch
The $243-million mixed-use development will comprise 205 apartments across two buildings rising up to nine storeys...
LATEST
Genton Architects' rendering of the East Village Sunbury project by Birchmore and IDA on Lancefield Road in Sunbury, Victoria.
Retail

Retail Centre Moves Ahead as Sunbury Prepares for Growth

Marisa Wikramanayake
2 Min
Bridgewater Gagebrook Brighton Derwent River from Granton
Planning

Scheme to Unlock 362 Lots in Tasmania Revealed

Leon Della Bosca
3 Min
Maroochydore Habitat The Millwell render hero
Residential

Midrise Project Breaks Ground as Sunshine Coast Ramps Up

Phil Bartsch
3 Min
Development

Brisbane Needs Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals and a Plan: Peter Edwards

Taryn Paris
3 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/rumi-island-switch-luxury-villas-to-budget-cabins-sa