LOCATION
Barinsdale, Victoria

CLIENT
Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative (GEGAC)

SECTOR
Health / Aboriginal Health / Community

PHOTOGRAPHY
Peter Clarke

TRADITIONAL LAND OWNERS
The Gunaikurnai people


Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative (GEGAC) represent the Indigenous Gunaikurnai people of Eastern Victoria and provide the local community with health services including consulting rooms for doctors, dentist and allied health professionals. The Gunaikurnai have a strong connection to the rivers and lakes that is their country.

The design is as much a response to site as to the program that needed to be provided. Two linear blocks run east-west with glazed connections allowing natural light to flood into all the spaces and connect building to landscape.

Taking inspiration from Indigenous eel traps, the northern entry has been expanded and expressed 3 dimensionally to signal entry and arrival. The remaining ends of each wing are low key serving as service and ambulance arrival points.

Externally the building uses earthy materials of rammed earth; timber and metal cladding to give a rich natural textured form that sit comfortably in the landscape that will age gracefully. The same palette is carried throughout internally with timber detail to the reception area, rammed earth, earthy textured carpet, vinyls and finishes.