Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence: A Cultural Beacon in Shepparton

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Nestled on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton, Victoria, the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence stands as a powerful symbol of cultural reclamation, education, and community empowerment. More than just a building, Munarra is a living embodiment of Indigenous knowledge systems, designed to uplift and celebrate First Peoples’ heritage while fostering pathways to higher education and social impact.

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At the heart of Munarra’s architectural brilliance lies a striking perforated metal art installation that wraps around the building’s façade. This artwork, developed through a deeply collaborative process led by Kaiela Arts and Indigenous artists, is not merely decorative—it is a narrative punched in aluminium. The perforated panels feature designs created by Yorta Yorta artists Glennys Briggs, Norm Stewart, and Suzanne Atkinson, each contributing unique visual stories that reflect the diversity and strength of Yorta Yorta family groups. Translated to metal and manufactured in Victoria, by Metrix Group.

The artwork serves as a cultural skin for the building, symbolizing the unbroken connections between past, present, and future. It is a visual representation of the community’s resilience and creativity, with motifs that speak to ceremony, knowledge, and spirit. Aunty Glennys Briggs’ contribution at the front entrance is particularly evocative—her depiction of a bull roarer and a string bag speaks to traditional practices and the transmission of lived and learned knowledge.

Designed by ARM Architecture in partnership with landscape architects Bush Projects Landscape Architecture, the building unfurls like a banner from above, echoing the tricolours of the Aboriginal flag and asserting its place as a beacon of Indigenous-led progress

The creation of the perforated metal artwork was part of a broader initiative to embed Indigenous voices into every facet of the Centre’s design. Through workshops known as Munarra Gunyah (Thunder Camps), young people and Elders came together to share stories, participate in smoking ceremonies, and create art that would become part of the building’s identity

In essence, the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence is a triumph of co-design, cultural integrity, and visionary leadership. Its central art installation is a testament to the enduring power of Indigenous storytelling, etched into the very structure of a place that will nurture generations to come.

If you would like to know about Designing With Country, reach out to design@metrixgroup.com.au about booking a 1 hour, 1 formal point CPD – Designing With Country and Respectful Practice created in partnership with Prof Phil Duncan, Galambany Professorial Fellow, Gomeroi Nation

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