Traditional Land Owners: Bidjigal Land

The Sanctuary is at the centre of a series of upgrades to the 140-year-old Castle Hill Cemetery, located on the land of the Bidjigal people on Dharug country. The brief was to respect and embrace the existing natural and commemorative character of the traditional bushland cemetery, and in doing so create a memorable, deferential response to meet the changing needs of the local community.

The building form grew from our discussions on how we could empathetically provide the essentials for a space that deals with the complexity of emotion that travels with ceremony – of contemplation, mourning, celebration, and loss.