Construction begins on the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub
Construction is underway on the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub, a new First Nations centre set to become a major drawcard for the Daintree and Tropical Far North Queensland region.
Situated on the edge of the Daintree Rainforest, the project celebrates the deep cultural and ecological significance of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji 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.
Through dance, art, ceremonies, tours, and displays, visitors will experience one of the world’s oldest living cultures firsthand—the Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra. By providing a space to share traditions, stories and connection to Country with visitors from around the globe, the Hub will also create meaningful employment and business opportunities for local First Nations communities.
Developed through a collaborative process with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji community, a key focus was on ensuring their voices were heard and their cultural needs respected. CA Architects and the COX team were supported in the community engagement process by Blaklash and The Fulcrum Agency.
A series of onsite, facilitated workshops allowed community members to share their thoughts and ideas—expressing a strong desire for a living cultural centre that preserves their connection to traditional lands and culture, while welcoming visitors. These workshops shaped key narratives around the cultural landscape and spatial opportunities, guiding the design process to reflect the Eastern Kuku Yalanji community’s needs, aspirations, and heritage.
COX Director, Richard Coulson
Community feedback suggested that The Hub would be a space for uniting the Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra, where culture could be practiced, celebrated and taught. There was strong emphasis from Elders that this place could be a space for the Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra community to practice culture through, art and artifacts, dance, food, stories. A “keeping place” for those who have Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra stories to tell and knowledge to share and for those who are yet to learn cultural practice to return and re-connect.
The project is sited in a clearing where the rainforest meets the sea, backing onto a landscape of mangroves, fan palms, strangling figs and giant paperbark trees. The scheme is arranged around a gathering and storytelling space. The diagram is a response to the concealment and revelation inherent in the rainforest and responds to the deep connection between bama (people) and landscape.
The elevated plan is a protection from the tidal and flood considerations of the site and supports an engagement space and amenities.
A slow ramp under a sweeping canopy provides access to the top of a simple stepped amphitheatre.
A battened screen provides a strong identity for the Hub with strong colour playing a role—referencing the vibrant hues of the local cassowary, the cassowary plum and their integral relationship.
The start of construction marks a significant milestone in realising this vision. COX is proud to be working in partnership with Queensland Parks and Wildlife and Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation to deliver a place that allows Traditional Owners to share their rich cultural heritage with visitors from around the world.
