TO NURTURE, HONOUR AND CELEBRATE
We are excited to announce that the Koorie Heritage Trust is expanding to all three levels in the Yarra Building at Fed Square. This will create a stand-alone and independent First Peoples arts and cultural centre; a first of its kind in an Australian Capital City.
Render of proposed Level 2 arrival foyer with view to temporary exhibition gallery
At the KHT, we seek to nurture, honour and celebrate the continuing cultures and Songlines of the First Peoples of South Eastern Australia. We do this by honouring our Community, celebrating the Culture, Creativity and Stories from our Community, and nurturing our People and Organisation. We are also about Place; and the expansion will not only secure our future as a fundamental part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, but is a significant new phase for the KHT in its 38-year history. It also recognises the importance of Victorian First Peoples during the time of Treaty, Truth Telling and the Voice.
Building works will commence on 12 July with an anticipated completion date in November 2023.
Render of proposed Level 1 public lounge
We will continue to remain open during this time, although there will be some disruptions to our normal daily operations. Visitors will no longer be able to access the Koorie Heritage Trust through the main doors to the Yarra Building, as our ground and floor will be closed during the period of the construction. Instead, access to our top floor to view our permanent collections display and access our meeting rooms will be via the Yarra Building passenger lift on the west side of the building (see map below).
From 1,145 sq metres, the KHT will expand to 1,740 square metres. This expansion will introduce a new Wominjeka|Welcome reception foyer and desk, new temporary exhibition galleries, meeting and function spaces, an expanded retail offer, all of which will support KHT’s future growth and ambitions.
KHT’s shopKOORIE will also be relocated to a temporary pop-up location in the Square, so visitors will still be able to purchase a unique and authentic gift designed and produced by our many Victorian First Peoples artists, designers and businesses. We will also continue to offer our popular Aboriginal guided walking tours along the Birrarung | Yarra River (Monday-Friday), as well as our highly regarded cultural competency and cultural safety workshops.
Render of proposed Level 2 shopKOORIE
KHT’s First Peoples First ethos will see the project not only being led by a First Nations architecture firm, but also employ First Nations builders, sub-contractors and designers. In particular, the project is being led by First Nations architect Jefa Greenaway of Greenaway Architects, in association with Lyons, and Architecture Associates. Together, the architecture team have developed a considered and beautiful plan for the building interior design and fit-out reflecting Country and Place, responding in a culturally sensitive way to both organisational and First Peoples design values.
The KHT expansion has been made possible through the generous support of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC), the Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program (ACIP), Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co), and Gandel Foundation.
You can support our building expansion through a tax-deductible donation by clicking on the donate button.
For further information, please telephone (03) 8662 6300 or EMAIL.
Render of proposed Level 2 temporary exhibition gallery
Access during expansion works
During the building expansion works Koorie Heritage Trust can be accessed using passenger lifts located at the western end of the Yarra Building.
Koorie Heritage Trust Access
Render of proposed Level 1 public lounge