Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub

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

Eastern Kuku Yalanji are the Traditional Owners of the ecotourism destination 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 Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub aims to introduce a strong cultural presence to Cape Tribulation, offering a gateway to authentic cultural experiences in the Daintree. It will be a place for the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people to share their dance, art, ceremony, food, and stories, celebrating and expressing living culture.

A key goal of the project was to reflect the aspirations of the Yalanjiwarra community. Through a series of workshops, the community expressed the desire for a space that fosters a deep connection to Country while allowing cultural sharing with visitors.

The architectural response draws inspiration from the experience of moving through the forest—transitioning from the enclosed canopy to elevated, open spaces. A contrast of light and shadow, and the use of dappled lighting, creates a sensory journey for visitors.

Design elements are influenced by the forest canopy, water, and colour. Timber framing and skylights mimic the richness of the rainforest, allowing filtered light to animate internal and circulation areas. Rainwater cascading from the roof is either harvested or directed into surrounding planters.

Colour plays a symbolic role, featuring the vibrant hues of the cassowary—myrtle green and plum purple. While the cassowary plum is inedible to humans, it sustains the cassowary. This ecological relationship is echoed in the architecture through subtle colour accents, exploring the deep connection between bama (people) and landscape.