Dunghutti Country
New South Wales
Eungai Creek Campus is a purpose-built home for Newington College’s social service immersion program. At Eungai Creek, Year 9 students participate in community service activities alongside rural learning during 8-week camps designed to foster independence and stewardship.
Located on 200 hectares of Dunghutti Country, buildings include eight cabins accommodating eight students each, alongside a health centre / reception and a communal dining hall, for a total of 1600sqm. Several existing buildings were repurposed for supporting uses.
The minimisation of high-carbon materials like concrete, aluminium and ceramic tiles, and focus on biogenic materials like timber, compressed straw, biochar, linoleum and cork gives architectural expression to the industry’s urgent need for radical decarbonisation.
The simple, approachable buildings respond to the client’s brief for “contemporary, humble, rural” design. Buildings sit comfortably in the landscape, with simple forms and uncluttered detailing that frames views to Mount Yarrahapinni, a landmark of significance to the Dunghutti people.
Award for Sustainable Architecture
Eungai Creek Campus demonstrates sustainability as a reciprocal relationship between architecture, Country, community and education. Located on 200 hectares of Dunghutti Country, the project supports Newington College’s social service immersion program through an approach grounded in stewardship, humility and long-term care for place. Buildings follow the contours of the land, frame views to Mount Yarrahapinni and create spaces for gathering, reflection and connection with Country.
The campus was conceived through a “material first” process prioritising low-carbon, biogenic construction. Carbon intensive materials were largely eliminated in favour of compressed straw panels, timber, cork and linoleum, significantly reducing embodied carbon while creating healthy, tactile and biophilic spaces. Architecture becomes an active participant in learning, shaping students’ understanding of responsibility, self-sufficiency and reciprocity.
Beyond environmental performance, the project invests in enduring relationships with local Indigenous communities and regional organisations, demonstrating how architecture can support ecological regeneration, cultural continuity and meaningful social change.
Commendation for Educational Architecture
Eungai Creek Campus sets a powerful benchmark for immersive education, embedding students in a lived experience of Country, culture and community. The masterplan carefully and respectfully situates several groupings of cabins within the landscape while achieving a strong sense of connection across the campus. Natural, low-carbon materials are expressed and celebrated as teaching tools, making sustainability tangible and immediate. The result is a purposeful project in which architecture becomes an active and enduring agent of learning and cultural understanding.
Award for Sustainable Architecture
Eungai Creek Campus demonstrates sustainability as a reciprocal relationship between architecture, Country, community and education. Located on 200 hectares of Dunghutti Country, the project supports Newington College’s social service immersion program through an approach grounded in stewardship, humility and long-term care for place. Buildings follow the contours of the land, frame views to Mount Yarrahapinni and create spaces for gathering, reflection and connection with Country.
The campus was conceived through a “material first” process prioritising low-carbon, biogenic construction. Carbon intensive materials were largely eliminated in favour of compressed straw panels, timber, cork and linoleum, significantly reducing embodied carbon while creating healthy, tactile and biophilic spaces. Architecture becomes an active participant in learning, shaping students’ understanding of responsibility, self-sufficiency and reciprocity.
Beyond environmental performance, the project invests in enduring relationships with local Indigenous communities and regional organisations, demonstrating how architecture can support ecological regeneration, cultural continuity and meaningful social change.
Commendation for Educational Architecture
Eungai Creek Campus sets a powerful benchmark for immersive education, embedding students in a lived experience of Country, culture and community. The masterplan carefully and respectfully situates several groupings of cabins within the landscape while achieving a strong sense of connection across the campus. Natural, low-carbon materials are expressed and celebrated as teaching tools, making sustainability tangible and immediate. The result is a purposeful project in which architecture becomes an active and enduring agent of learning and cultural understanding.
A few weeks ago, I travelled north for two days to spend time with a Year 9 group at Eungai Creek. The property is working brilliantly so far and my visit confirmed so many of the reasons why we were so keen to establish this campus.
I have heard stories of boys approaching the experience with real trepidation but wanting to go straight back when they were finished.
We are in the business of making good humans here at Newington and I am convinced that with its hundreds of learning opportunities Eungai Creek will increasingly become part of that project.
Michael Heenan, Design Director
Michael Jones, Design Lead
Chris Taylor, Project Lead
Simone Carmody, Designer
James Cunnew, Design Review
Midson Group, Project Manager
Brickwood Planning Services, Planner
Colliers, Surveyor
Mid Coast Building and Environmental, Bushfire and Wastewater Management
Wolf Peak, Ecology
Geotron, Structural Engineer
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
JHA, Services Engineering
MCD, Fire Engineering
Barker Ryan Stewart, Civil Engineering
UFD, Commercial Kitchen Design
Funktion, Accessibility
Jensen Hughes, BCA
JMT, Traffic
Arterra, Arbotist
Regional Geotechnical Solutions, Geotechnical
GreyCat, Facade Compliance
Ortech Industries, Durra Panel Manufacturer
SureFoot, Micropile Footing Manufacturer
E-LAB, Section J and embodied carbon