Girrawaa Creative Work Centre at Bathurst Jail

The Girrawaa Arts Centre at Bathurst Jail was opened in 1998. There was a consultation process undertaken with the Indigenous communities that these buildings were built for to reflect cultural needs. The building design is based on the shape of a goanna, decided upon in collaboration with inmates as it is the totem of the local Wiradjuri community.

Gibbons Street Redfern

Gibbons Street is a Multi Residential built project that was completed in 2021. It is a mixed-use development of 160 social and affordable living units in a tower form with retail and commercial space. The design responds to Aboriginal historical and cultural context, featuring Aboriginal heritage items and materials that are significant in the streetscape of the area along with featured Aboriginal artists’ works.

From smokebush to spinifex: Towards recognition of Indigenous knowledge in the commercialisation of plants

The article From smokebush to spinifex explores Indigenous knowledge in commercialisation of plants, including the diverse relationships with plants and their seeds. Author Terri Kanke acknowledges the cultural knowledge systems, deep histories and sophisticated knowledges that link culture and the natural environment. The articled explores western approaches, institutions and history with collecting Australian plant materials, their different approaches and the lack of culturally based Indigenous ownership in knowledge. The article aims to promote more robust inclusion of Indigenous rights, interests and concerns.

Exploring ‘Aboriginal’ sites in Sydney: a shifting politics of place?

This essay was written by Melinda Hinknkson with the aim of addressing the issues that arose in the context of the research that were not canvassed in the authors other work, Aboriginal Sydney. The book was a guide to fifty places in the greater Sydney region designed to be used as a straightforward guidebook as well as a selective and short social history of Sydney. It aims to address what exactly was being produced in this process of uncovering Aboriginal history in Sydney while exploring what kinds of representations of Aboriginality were emerging. It further explores the idea that these representations differed from those identified and analysed in relation to Sydney’s Aboriginal sites in the past.

Eora Journey Harbour Walk Storytelling Report

The Eora Journey – Harbour Walk Storytelling Report is a draft for the City of Sydney. The written report provides the foundational storytelling framework and recommendations to guide the implementation of the Harbour Walk being developed by the city in collaboration with community members and project partners. The document was last updated September 2019.

Designing with Country

Designing with Country is a part of the Connecting with Country Framework. It involves taking a Country-centred approach with spatial design opportunities that improve the functional design of projects and reinforce a connection with Country.

Cultural Principles and Protocols for Designers: for projects or curricula involving Indigenous peoples, communities and materials

A written document with cultural principles and protocols for designers, architects and planners, and those working in related industries proposing to work with Indigenous peoples and communities. These are also relevant for academic design staff intending to incorporate Indigenous cultural content into their curricula. This document was originally published in 2017 and republished in 2021.

Connecting with Country Framework

Connecting with Country is a framework for developing connections with Country to inform the planning, design, and delivery of built environment projects in NSW. The document has been written by and with Aboriginal experts in spatial design in collaboration with Government Architects NSW staff. It is an evolving document reflecting an increasing body of knowledge and practice.

Closing the gap: 10 Years of Housing for Health in NSW: An evaluation of a healthy housing intervention

This report is a detailed study using geo-coded hospital separations data undertaken to identify if there have been any health benefits for the residents of the houses that have received the repair and maintenance program in Aboriginal community housing across NSW the past 10 years. The program has been noted to consistently identify improvements in house function for each project, increasing the ability of the householders to practice healthy living.

Casino Aboriginal Medical Service

The Casino Aboriginal Medical Service is a built project completed in 2016. The project aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities by constructing a public medical service building. The project created a social hub with medical services for the community that responds to culture and Country.