Worimi People
New South Wales
Newcastle
The meander, a bend in a river, ancient, dappled shade, birdsong, timeless.
Worimi and Gringai country is known as land of ‘native plumb trees’, ‘abundant fish’ and ‘big water holes’ is a timeless place for food, shelter and harvest. This site has been a campground for generational families, later living in a shed, around pot bellies and possums.
SHAC sought to frame the edge of the old shed site, re-use bits and bobs and embrace the river sights, sounds and smells through a series of elevated passive pavilions. Prefabricated in Newcastle, assembled on site in a few days, then fitted out and finished off in-situ by some truly clever earthy folk.
Three new pavilions; one for living (family), one for sleeping (fatigue) and one for utilities (farm) blend quietly into the surroundings. It is honest and raw, as a farmhouse should be. We’ve totally lost the owners, they’ve gone bush!
The simple, agricultural forms of the Karuah River Retreat, belie the ingenuity that brought it into being. The brief for a highly passive house set deep in the bush led the architects to use prefabricated timber cassettes that could be built in a controlled environment with minimal waste and then transported to the site for faster assembly. The project has been a valuable learning experience for those involved and showcases the potential of this skill and capacity being developed in Newcastle.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
