Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub

“The centre should facilitate a way of being that makes you feel a special connection to Country.”

Situated on the edge of the Daintree Rainforest, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub celebrates the deep cultural and ecological significance of Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country. As the Traditional Owners of Cape Tribulation in Daintree National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land – CYPAL), part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji community envisioned a place that fosters a special connection to Country while sharing living culture with visitors.

Developed through extensive community engagement and a series of on-Country workshops, the Hub reflects the aspirations of the Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra community. Elders and community members expressed a desire for a living cultural centre where culture could be practiced, celebrated and passed on through dance, art, ceremony, food, stories and cultural experiences.

The Hub is also envisioned as a “keeping place” for cultural knowledge, providing opportunities for younger generations to reconnect with traditions, language and Country.

Set within a clearing where rainforest meets the sea, the architecture responds to the surrounding landscape of mangroves, fan palms, strangler figs and paperbark trees. Organised around gathering and storytelling spaces, the design draws inspiration from the experience of moving through the forest, transitioning from enclosed, shaded spaces to elevated, open outlooks.

Through filtered light, natural materials and references to the colours of the cassowary and cassowary plum, the project expresses the deep connection between bama (people) and landscape.

By providing a place for cultural exchange, the Hub will strengthen community, support cultural continuity, and create meaningful employment and business opportunities for local First Nations people and future generations to come, while welcoming visitors from around the world.