Nguluway DesignInc—Tubba-gah Wiradjuri Keeping Place

The Tubba-gah Wiradjuri Keeping Place is an Aboriginal owned and operated cultural facility on the outskirts of Dubbo in Central Western NSW. It allows the local Wiradjuri People to share their culture with the broader community, housing repatriated artifacts and providing opportunities for cultural learning. The design connects to Country at every step, creating a facility that sensitively fits within the landscape, telling the stories of the place and creating belonging for the community.

Stories of Country

Located along the Wambool (Macquarie) River, the site is steeped in Tubba-gah spirit and cultural practices. The first stage will see the building of the ‘Keeping Place’ which is to store and preserve partially provenanced repatriated Wiradjuri artifacts, most of which are carved scar-trees.

Location: Wiradjuri Country
Dubbo, New South Wales
Client: Dubbo City Council
Year: 2023
Project Contact: Craig Kerslake
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Spaces and places

A series of indoor and outdoor spaces weave together into a new cultural facility that supports a range of functions. Key spaces include a large exhibition area, performance space, a climate controlled artefact ‘Keeping Place’, eco-cabins, a commercial kitchen and dining area, a nursery, administration areas, native food gardens, road and parking infrastructure and on-site waste management. These spaces support a range of cultural practices including art exhibitions, cultural events, ecotourism, a restaurant offering local Indigenous ingredients, artefact storage, native plant propagation, traditional teaching of cool burning, maker-spaces for inmate release and cultural sharing experiences.

The design approach explores the idea that built form belonging to Wambool, is part of the surroundings natural systems to which it too belongs. This requires that built form must be in reciprocity with Country—the natural world and people . When people come to stay at Tubba-gah, they too will learn to be in reciprocity with Country.

The spirit of yinyamarra—to go about what you do quietly, respectfully and with honour—is central to the community, who are committed to sharing Wiradjuri culture both within their community and with others. Their offer is deeply and authentically grounded in Tubba-Gah Wiradjuri cultural practice such as song in language, dance, food, art and stories under stars. All guests who stay at the facility will take part of an ancient continuum of cultural learning.

The Nguluway DesignInc team provided integrated urban design, landscape and architecture services for the concept, developing a design that authentically emerges from Wiradjuri Country.