BEGINNINGS - First Peoples' Architecture

Regional Architecture Association’s next event, Beginnings, will be an immersive weekend discovering Australia’s first architecture. This unique event offers hands-on workshop experiences in addition to presentations and conversations during a gathering at Coolendel Camp on the beautiful Shoalhaven River. There will be Yarning Circles, workshops and discussions around First Nations cultural heritage along with a Coroboree, dialogue with Elders, camping, campfires and a cold plunge into the Shoalhaven.

This will all take place from Thursday 19 October - Saturday 21 October 2023 at Coolendel Campground, NSW, 40 minutes west of Nowra situated on the shores of the Shoalhaven River. This is one of the central meeting places between communities on Country along the South Coast. It is a place that continues to be a central place for gathering to this day. 

Beginnings will be an immersive indigenous cultural experience exploring Australia’s origins of the built environment. In collaboration with Gadhungal Marring, we will explore the earliest practices of place-making and architecture. This event seeks to forge deep connections between Country, Architecture, and Heritage, creating pathways and actions for a connected architectural future. This transformative event will further bridge the gap between existing indigenous culture, our understanding of heritage and how we better articulate this experience through practice. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape our shared cultural landscape through this exploration of our collective heritage.

The RAA is pleased to welcome Renee McGuinn of MAAD Studio, Wesley Hindmarch of Local Architect South Coast and Dharrawal Yuin Raymond Timbery as creative directors of this unique event.

Raymond is a descendant of the Dharrawal & Jaitmatang language group of the Bidjigal & Manero tribe. He grew up at Jervis Bay, Huskisson and has always lived near the ocean and has learnt traditional ways of song & dance and how people would communicate through sharing stories.  

RAA events are open to associated disciplines and interested community members as well as RAA members.

Access and accommodation info is available here.