THE same architects who designed the Yulara Resort at Uluru have been contracted to draw up plans for a Minjerribah Cultural Centre on North Stradbroke Island.
COX Architecture also will design an upgrade for Minjerribah Camping and the Dunwich High School redevelopment.
It is expected work will start soon on the projects which have a combined value of $7 million.
They will be funded through the state government’s economic transition strategy which was put in place to help ease the island out of the sand mining industry.
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello said the appointment of such an illustrious firm was a significant milestone in Minjerribah’s economic transition.
“We expect to have the camp ground upgrades completed by mid-2018, in time for the start of the 2018 Quandamooka Festival in July,” he said.
“The redevelopment of the former high school will also be done next year.
“The Minjerribah Cultural Centre construction is scheduled to commence in late 2018 for a 2020 opening.
“These will be significant construction projects and QYAC will be looking to engage as many local contractors for the work as possible.
“QYAC has a register of local contractors we will be inviting to tender.
“COX Architects played a key role in the transformation of Ayers Rock into Uluru in the 1980s, with its innovative Yulara Resort design, which was revolutionary in its thinking and sensitive to land, country and place.
“The outstanding design combined a low-key silhouette with that strong sense of place.
“It has stood the test of time and is still a major piece of Australian tourism infrastructure.
“We believe the same outcome will be achieved on Minjerribah with these three projects. They will transform the island and it will not look back.”
Mr Costello said that as soon as designs were available they would be released publicly.
COX director Kieran Wong said the firm was privileged to be working with traditional owners of such significant country.
“The Quandamooka people are proud custodians of country and culture and our role is to ensure that the design work we have been commissioned to complete supports and celebrates this,” Mr Wong said.
“...Our work has always been driven by the desire to benefit community and these three projects offer an opportunity to do just that.
“We are excited by the potential of the projects to leverage a greater understanding and connection to Quandamooka culture for visitors and residents.”
COX has nearly 400 staff in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. The firm has been shortlisted five times in the World Architecture Festival in Berlin, the most of any practice in Australia.
It designed the Rod Laver Arena, Sydney Football Stadium and the National Maritime Museum.
Queensland projects include the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
