La Trobe University

Description:

Located at on Yorta Yorta Country, the expansion of the university’s Shepparton campus seen the inclusion of a landscaping theme that integrates an Indigenous Welcome Garden. The Welcome Garden was proposed by the university, who saw an opportunity to honour the site’s heritage and keep this top of mind for all visitors to the campus. The plans were developed by Jefa Greenaway of Greenaway Architects in collaboration with Paul Herzich of Mantirri Design. Throughout the design process, there was also extensive consultation with Indigenous stakeholders.

The objective of the landscape scheme was to reveal layers of Yorta Yorta Country on which it sits and pay homage to the Traditional Owners of the land. Yorta Yorta Country has three main environments: Water (in the form of rivers and wetlands), Grassy Woodland Plains, and Rocky Hills which are traditional observation points and places of ceremony and ritual. The La Trobe University Welcome Garden expresses this through a number of elements. 

Local fauna is reflected in the outdoor furniture and signage: for example, the broad-shelled turtle is represented through patterns etched onto concrete plinths. Local flora is represented by garden beds with plants, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers that are endemic to Yorta Yorta Country. Meanwhile, water is symbolised by the graphical expression of the Yarning Circle, and land is represented by the paving design, which features a variegated pattern of local geology.

As well as telling stories of the Yorta Yorta Country that are culturally meaningful. The landscape design places the site’s specific Indigenous heritage front and centre, so that everyone has an opportunity to have a greater understanding and awareness of Yorta Yorta Country.