Behind Munarra’s design as it earns four award nominations

Designed by ARM Architecture and built by Aboriginal-owned company TVN On-Country, Munarra is a reflection of place, identity and cultural leadership.

“It's kind of the first and only building of its type,” said Jesse Judd, one of the architects from ARM Architecture.

“It was a First Nations-led process, self-determined by Yorta Yorta people.

“It was a process of deep listening and then process of providing, feeding it back and saying, have we understood correctly?

“Is this what you want to do?”

The project was developed in partnership with the Kaiela Institute, Rumbalara Football Netball Club and the University of Melbourne, and was supported by $30 million from the Victorian Government and an additional $6.64 million from the university — the largest state investment ever awarded to a First Nations-owned and operated company.

It was shaped through months of consultation with groups featuring community members, Elders, University of Melbourne staff and state government stakeholders.

The result is a space designed to welcome, and it aims to honour Country with yarning rooms, an Elders’ lounge, child-friendly study areas and teaching spaces woven together.

The architecture includes visual references to the river, the Yorta Yorta turtle, and a rooftop flag visible from above. More than 15 Yorta Yorta artists contributed works to the building, too.

Jesse explained what the nominations meant.

“(It’s) an acknowledgement of a lot of hard work,” he said.

“I believe this is a nationally significant project not just from its architecture, but from its purpose, and perhaps sets a template for these kind of projects around the country.

“But (it’s) also the acknowledgement of the importance of the project to this community – (it) alters the opportunity to raise the profile of this community and its endeavours.

“We’d like to work on projects that make a difference for communities, that provide a sense of identity, a sense of character, but importantly, a sense of purpose.

“And that’s what great public buildings do, and it’s very rare that you can do that kind of work for an Aboriginal community, with the kind of pride and presence this project has.

“(It) presents that opportunity to sort of redress and perhaps be a physical manifestation of reconciliation, to contribute to closing the gap, which is really needed.”

Winners of the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards will be announced on June 27.

“If we're lucky enough to get an award, we look forward to celebrating that and sharing in the success with the community, who were equal authors in the building,” Jesse said.