Award-winning Sunbuild will construct and fit out the Northern Land Council’s new headquarters.

The building will have a strong Aboriginal theme.

Sunbuild managing director Neil Sunners says: “It will be a marvellous building.”

The $60 million NLC headquarters is being built in the Northcrest commercial centre in Berrimah and will face the Stuart Highway.

It will be in the shape of a woomera – a traditional and highly effective spear-throwing device – and will be 125 metres long and 17 metres wide.

And the entry and exterior shade will be a work of woven carpentry craftsmanship to represent another Aboriginal icon, the dilly bag, as a representative of the cultural authority of women and their importance
to cultural stories and law.

The elegant building, designed by Darwin-based Ashford Lamaya Architects, will not just be offices for land council staff, servicing constituents and other members of the public, but also be a cultural hub, showcasing the history and culture of the NLC’s seven regions.

The building will have two basements and three upper levels, and include a workshop for the maintenance of the land council’s fleet of vehicles, a warehouse and offices.

There will also be beautifully landscaped gardens and room for expansion, including enough space for a second warehouse.

Environmental features of the design include passive solar shading, solar collection, water conservation and compliance with national energy efficiency standards.

Work has started and is scheduled to finish by the end of this year.

The late NLC chair Mr Bush-Blanasi, was a strong supporter of the new HQ.

“He was very switched on about the whole project and was very keen for Aboriginal people to be involved
in the design and construction work,” says Mr Sunners.

The project will create more than 300 jobs.

Sunbuild is also building the Larrakia Cultural Centre.

The $45 million centre, designed by Darwin-based Rossi Architects, will also be an impressive building.

It will sit on the site of the old aquarium at Stokes Hill Wharf, only a boomerang’s throw from the Darwin Convention Centre and the proposed new five-star hotel.

The building will be in the shape of a bird with one wing hanging over the sea.

There will be a semi-basement and two floors with plenty of room for galleries, offices and a restaurant.
Landscaping will include women’s and men’s areas, and saltwater and freshwater ponds.

A boardwalk running alongside the building will eventually be linked to a 10-kilometre walkway running along the coast from Fishermen’s Wharf to Cullen Bay.

The historic pumphouse next to the centre will not be touched. The project will create 160 jobs.

“We’ll use as many Aboriginal workers as possible,” says Mr Sunners. “And, of course, they will be given mentorship and excellent training.”

Aboriginal artists will be contracted to paint part of the building.

Work has started and will finish in October next year. TQ