St Joseph’s Nature Play Master Plan by Ecoscape Australia

Ecoscape Australia

Aboriginal Nation

Miriwoong

Client

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Schooll

Location

Kununurra, Western Australia

Jury comment

This masterplan provides an authentic and engaging design outcome for a school in the geographically isolated town of Kununurra, Western Australia.

The project exemplifies the role of the landscape architect in collaborative and culturally sensitive partnerships. Recognizing that the school was the future of the community, the design team consulted with major stakeholder groups including the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre and Waringarri Aboriginal Arts. As a result, the final design is rich in its cultural connectivity.

The masterplan builds on the existing school curriculum and fosters continued learning of the Miriwoong language – of which fewer than 20 fluent speakers remain – through outdoor classrooms, language posts and artworks. The contribution to the wider community is significant, building greater community involvement with St Joseph’s and the continued preservation of the culture and language of the Miriwoong people.

Entrant Ecoscape Australia Project team Nicole Croudace; Francis Kotai Photography Emma Walker; Nicole Croudace