Barkandji Country
New South Wales
BAAKA Cultural Centre transforms the fire-damaged former Knox & Downs store in Wilcannia into a powerful civic and cultural heart on Barkandji Country. Developed through an extended, trust-led co-design process, the project recognises culture as living, evolving and inseparable from place. Elders were clear that the heritage building itself was Country, guiding an architectural approach that both holds memory and enables new cultural expression.
As Wilcannia’s first cultural and tourism centre, BAAKA supports cultural exchange, education, language revitalisation, art-making and community gathering, while inviting visitors to encounter the true character of the town and the Baaka (Darling) River. Retained heritage elements anchor the building in collective memory, while new rammed earth forms—made from local soils—respond to climate and evoke Country through texture, shadow and thermal mass.
More than a building, BAAKA is a place of healing, pride and renewal, safeguarding Barkandji culture while supporting a shared, optimistic future for the community.
I see this project as a true success because it was done with us, not to us. It brings life to our home and for Wilcannia as a whole. It honours our culture, our stories and our connection to Country, while also recognising the shared history of this town. The building already feels respected and owned by community. It stands as a strong symbol of renewal and pride, and we are confident it will become a place where culture is strengthened, stories are shared, and future generations feel a deep sense of belonging on Barkandji Country. Â
Ka Wai Yeung, Design Architect
Marni Reti, Project Architect
David Kaunitz, Design Architect
Stellen Consulting, Civil Consultant
Team Catalyst, ESD Consultant
Paul Theoharidis, Project Manager
Peter Hughes, Project Manager
Zade Thompson, Project Manager
Bruce Hutchison, Structural Engineer
Stellen Consulting, Electrical Consultant