Incorporating Indigenous consultation into the design development stage of the Stage 1 Mannix Project was a crucial and enriching component of the design, ensuring that improvements to the Mannix Campus reflect and respect Indigenous cultures and perspectives. In early March 2024, representatives from the Wurundjeri Land Council, college representatives, and the architect undertook a cultural consultation with the purpose of discussing the possibilities of incorporating storytelling and the culture of the traditional landowners into the project design and landscaping spaces. The meeting took place with two Aunties from the Land Council who were briefed on the history of the site, the proposed works on the site, advice received from the Land Council regarding native flora, any significant known artefact locations, and the celebration of Aboriginal culture, specifically that of the Wurundjeri Tribe.
Deliverables from the meeting with the Wurundjeri Land Council include: a dedicated Indigenous garden bed that will greet all who arrive at the main assembly point for both buildings on the north side of the campus, the installation of Aboriginal artwork internally within the buildings post-construction, and the planting of Indigenous flora embedded within the landscape surrounding both buildings.
