Bundjalung Tribal Society Aboriginal Cultural & Ecotourism Centre
Nestled within macadamia farmlands and rolling hills, the Bundjalung Tribal Society Cultural Centre is a celebration and preservation of Bundjalung heritage. The centre aims to provide a sanctuary for cultural activities—a place for community gathering which showcases the Bundjalung People’s deep connection to the natural world to which they find their belonging.
The architectural concept features three suspended boxes and large cantilevered canopies, creating dynamic forms and functional spaces that connect to the landscape through deliberate views and vistas.
The project will be developed in two stages, allowing for phased construction and operations.
Symbolic + sustainable
Inspired by the Goanna totem, the design philosophy embraces Designing with Country, incorporating abstract elements that reflect its natural surrounds.
Central to the design is a mass rammed earth wall—symbolic to the community's strength, resilience, and profound cultural bonds with the land. The rammed earth walls also champion the site’s story of sustainability, providing thermal mass to regulate temperature and protection against bushfires, while lightweight framing walls are clad in durable black corrugated steel for contrast.
The design includes large gathering spaces for community events, medium-sized areas for collective activities like those in the café and verandas, and intimate meeting places for smaller group discussions or individual meetings, including gender-specific programs.
Form is inspired by the Bundjalung tribe’s spiritual connection to the Goanna—their totem—taking the essence of the winding tail to drive site layout and wayfinding approaches. The concept was developed through a cohesive Designing from Country methodology led by Nguluway DesignInc.
Landscape is the hero
The centre champions cultural continuity through architectural design and landscaping, incorporating features like Goanna footprint sculptures to enhance cultural narrative. Blending seamlessly with its rural surroundings, the centre fosters community engagement and education, offering a sanctuary for cultural activities and showcasing the Bundjalung relationship with the natural world.
The landscape strategy ensures built form, wayfinding connections and central meeting places are embedded within Country.