The award recognises projects which celebrate Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition, and their application to planning and land management.Located on the banks of the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River), Rivermark is a place of cultural significance for Whadjuk Noongar people.
To ensure the Noongar history of the site was celebrated and embedded in the design of Rivermark, Hesperia engaged cultural specialists TheFulcrum.Agency and Karrda Design. Both consultancies have close connections with the Noongar community in Perth.
Working together, the team facilitated meaningful engagement with the Noongar community, researched background information and developed a cultural narrative to guide all phases at Rivermark, from initial concept creation through to design guidelines and public art.
Rivermark demonstrates how early engagement and reconciliation can play a formative role in the master planning process. Hesperia’s Managing Director Ben Lisle believes the business has a responsibility to support reconciliation and empowerment for our Aboriginal and First Nations people.
“We wanted to ensure that the First Nations experience of the site, both historical and contemporary, were embedded in the development from the outset,” Ben said.
“I am proud of the knowledge and meaningful relationships we have developed. I look forward to working with TheFulcrum.Agency and Karrda Design on future projects.”
Thank you to the Planning Institute of Australia for this recognition and TheFulcrum.Agency and Karrda Design for your contributions in developing the story of country here at Rivermark.