PDT embarked on an exciting journey with QUT and Blaklash (Aboriginal Design Agency specialising in First Nations Placemaking) to design a space for the colocation of the Carumba Institute, Oodgeroo Unit, Elders & Community Space in B Block of the QUT Garden’s Point Campus. The outcome was heavily influenced by infusing Indigenous Australian culture into all aspects of the design, this included working closely with local Indigenous artists.
QUT Garden’s Point Campus is situated on the land of the Turrbal and Yugara peoples. Binbilla, the Garden’s Point peninsula, is a site rich with Aboriginal cultural significance. This layered history transcends thousands of years of Aboriginal experience, from pre-colonisation to the urban Indigenous Australian identity. The Carumba Institute and the Oodgeroo Unit play significant roles in campus life and fostering a culturally safe environment. Their support contributes to the success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students whilst studying and into the future. Within the Community, tertiary education is seen as a pathway to create change. This is a place for educating and empowering First Nations Students. The vision is to create a space that encourages activation, storytelling and supports the multifaceted needs of students at QUT.
The concept of ‘Infinite Pathways’ was formed from discussions with Uncle Cheg (former elder-in-residence) and his lived experiences that have heavily informed the cultural framework. It is intended to be open-ended, hopeful and rooted in the idea of endless possibilities. Infinite Pathways is an amalgamation of both literal and metaphorical paths on the Garden’s Point Campus. Before Colonisation, there was a significant walking track for the local Aboriginal people that traversed the site. Growing from this rich history, the metaphorical layer highlights QUT’s role in fostering educational, professional, and social pathways for future Indigenous Australian leaders.
PDT are proud to have been a part of this journey, designing and delivering a space that supports infinite pathways.
For further details on the architectural response, please refer to our website.
Photography - Scott Burrows
