Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence

MCRE followed a deeply collaborative and culturally grounded design process led by principles of Yorta Yorta self-determination, truth telling, and cultural continuity. Through extensive consultation and co-design with Elders, Traditional Owners, and local community members, the project embedded identity and intergenerational knowledge into its form and function. The organic shape of the building, inspired by a shell, shield, and the Aboriginal flag, reflects values of strength, pride, welcome, and support.

The project exceeded the brief by integrating education, sport, and community functions within a highly flexible, sustainable, and culturally resonant design. Key features such as yarning spaces, Elders’ areas, and family support zones encourage cultural exchange, while office, learning, and hospitality spaces enable workforce training and future enterprise. The design includes passive climate control and Indigenous planting, supporting sustainability and connection to Country.

Implementation was led by an Indigenous-owned builder and involved local artists and community members in delivering large-scale artworks and cultural narratives, such as the Nanyak Wall. These elements are embedded throughout the building and landscape, creating a learning environment rooted in Country and community.

The final outcome demonstrates professional design execution and finish, with a durable, low-maintenance build using standard construction methods paired with bespoke cultural elements. The upgraded Rumbalara Football and Netball Club now offers improved amenities and stronger community links, while the broader site has become a social, educational, and cultural heart for Shepparton.

The design process ensured every aspect of MCRE is meaningful and community-led, delivering a powerful symbol of Yorta Yorta identity and a lasting legacy for future generations.

MCRE, widely acknowledged as world leading, redefines how architecture can respond to cultural, social, and environmental needs through a truly original, community-led process. Rather than beginning with a design vision, the project was shaped entirely by the aspirations of the Yorta Yorta community. We as architects acted as facilitators, not authors, supporting the realisation of ideas through deep listening, co-design, and cultural authority. This approach marks a significant shift in design methodology and sets a precedent for self-determined architecture in Victoria.

MCRE addresses the long-standing issue of First Nations underrepresentation in civic and educational infrastructure. It provides a place of cultural strength, pride, learning, and welcome, designed entirely to reflect the values and needs of its users. The built form is inspired by cultural references including the shell, the shield, and the Aboriginal flag, and its circular, grounded structure physically and symbolically connects built and natural spaces. It is not only a building but a gathering ground for community.

The Nanyak Wall, yarning spaces, integrated artworks, and Indigenous plantings are not aesthetic additions but embedded, functional expressions of culture, history, and identity. The facility also integrates opportunities for education, enterprise, and workforce development, offering long-term benefits to both the Aboriginal and wider communities.

In construction, MCRE delivered outstanding social procurement results, including record engagement of Victorian Aboriginal businesses and workers. Its sustainable design features include an all-electric system, passive heating and cooling, low-waste materials, and an Indigenous landscape that regenerates local ecology.

MCRE is a ground-breaking model of culturally led design. It shows how architecture, when shaped by community leadership and respectful collaboration, can create lasting value and opportunity.

MCRE responds to a critical need for a culturally led, community-driven space that celebrates Yorta Yorta identity while delivering broad educational, social, and environmental outcomes. Its design process represents a significant shift in practice, positioning the architectural team not as authors but as facilitators. This allowed Yorta Yorta voices to lead the vision, creating a world-first model for First Nations-led civic architecture.

Over 12 months of engagement involved more than 1,000 community members, shaping a centre that reflects the diversity, stories, and landscapes of Yorta Yorta Country. From the rock formations of the Warby Ranges to the wetlands of Barmah National Park, the cultural and ecological depth of the region is embedded throughout the building and landscape. The result is a design that is user-centred, site-responsive, and deeply rooted in Country.

The collaborative design process brought together Bush Projects, Spacecraft Studios, and Kaiea Arts to embed cultural narratives and community artwork into every aspect of the built and natural environment. The Nanyak Wall, Indigenous planting, and large-scale artworks act as living expressions of Yorta Yorta knowledge, strengthening intergenerational connection and storytelling.

Delivered by Indigenous-owned contractor TVN On-Country, the project exemplifies what is possible when First Nations leadership drives every stage of the design and delivery process. Munarra creates a powerful precedent for cultural empowerment through design. It is both an architectural achievement and a symbol of what future community infrastructure can be.

Community feedback highlights a thriving space, with record-breaking football finals, expanding enterprises, and a deep sense of local pride and ownership.

MCRE delivers lasting social, environmental, and economic benefits for the Yorta Yorta community and the wider Shepparton region. It demonstrates the value of a professional and inclusive design process grounded in cultural leadership and deep community engagement.

During construction, the project far exceeded all social procurement targets. A total of 10.8% of expenditure was directed to Victorian Aboriginal businesses, well above the mandated 1.5%. Of the overall project team, 32.9% identified as Victorian Aboriginal. The workforce included 19.4% Victorian Aboriginal employees, with 27,267 hours of work completed by disadvantaged Victorians. In total, 251 businesses were engaged, including 77 Victorian Indigenous businesses, 12 of which were based in Greater Shepparton.

The project is the largest ever awarded to a First Nations owned and operated company in the state, offering direct training opportunities including cadetships and work experience for First Nations students interested in construction.

Beyond construction, Munarra will deliver long-term social value as a centre for education, sport, culture, and community gathering. It supports First Nations leadership through culturally responsive programs focused on education, employment pathways, and health and wellbeing. The facility will house initiatives for upskilling and career development, fostering sustained workforce growth and opportunity.

The project also establishes a central gathering place within the Shepparton Sports Precinct, previously disconnected from community life. Public engagement is supported through gathering spaces, an art-clad colonnade, and generous Indigenous planting that create a landscape for storytelling, bush tucker, and ceremony. Upgrades to Rumbalara Football Netball Club, including new seating, BBQ areas, and a blue bridge linking the club to the wider precinct, improve access and amenity.

Large-scale artworks and embedded cultural narratives celebrate Yorta Yorta identity and reinforce self-determination.

Munarra prioritises sustainability through a ‘fabric first’ approach, optimising massing, insulation, and natural ventilation. Sunshades balance seasonal comfort, while an all-electric approach reduces carbon emissions. Indigenous planting and extensive canopy tree planting supports biodiversity and learning, reinforcing connection to Country. Durable, cost-effective materials minimise waste, ensuring a resilient, low-maintenance design. The building 100% solar ready.