Dandjoo Darbalung. Places with purpose.

 

A space shaped by Culture and community

Opened in 2019, the Banksia Building is a purpose-built residential and Cultural hub created with $12.8 million in government funding. Designed to grow the Dandjoo Darbalung Program, it fosters both academic excellence and Cultural strength

The building includes 54 student rooms, a vibrant Cultural Centre, flexible learning areas and a yarning circle shaped like a Banksia. Grounded in Indigenous design principles, it reflects the connection between identity, landscape and Country. While created for the Dandjoo Darbalung community, the space also welcomes non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, encouraging shared learning and mutual respect grounded in Cultural integrity.

 
 
 

The tower and fire pit

A central feature of the building, the tower opens to the sky and is crowned with a ceremonial fire pit. Its circular design honours the deep relationship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with land, sky, birds and animals.

The yarning circle provides a space for small-group mentoring, storytelling and reflection. It also serves as a social meeting point and a place for quiet contemplation, always open to the sky and grounded in purpose.

Shared communal areas

Communal kitchens and lounges were designed in response to student voices, who asked for spaces that feel like home. These areas support cooking, conversation and study, and reflect the role of relational connection in everyday life.

They offer both function and comfort, creating a sense of family where students can support each other academically and personally.

A living environment shaped by family

Student rooms are grouped into pods of nine to ten, with layouts that echo the diversity of family life. This configuration encourages natural interaction and informal mentoring between older and younger students.

It reflects the values of kinship, care and shared responsibility that are central to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander living and learning.

Cultural centre

Surrounded by native gardens, the Cultural Centre is the heart of the Dandjoo Darbalung Program. It is a gathering place for tutoring, mentoring and celebration, and also hosts visiting schools and programs including Follow the Dream, Clontarf Foundation, Stars Foundation, Shooting Stars, Girls from Oz and Future Footprints.

The Centre provides a culturally safe space where students can grow, lead and engage in meaningful community exchange.

Outdoor spaces for Cultural expression

Open outdoor spaces support Cultural performance and creative practice. Themed native gardens and sliding panel access allow for a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

These spaces are used for study, informal learning and cultural gatherings, and also welcome broader community engagement in a setting grounded in connection to Country.

Learning Centre

Academic success is a key pillar of the Dandjoo Darbalung Program, and the Learning Centre supports this with a light-filled, quiet space for both group collaboration and independent study.

Tutoring, peer mentoring and guided workshops all take place here, supporting each student’s strengths and learning needs in a culturally responsive way.

Rooftop garden

Every rooftop at St Catherine’s is designed with purpose. The rooftop above the Cultural Centre is a tranquil, open-air setting for dialogue, ceremony and reflection.