A project centred on culture, community care and connection.
The Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) was founded in 2001 to represent and provide health, wellbeing and educational services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander residents on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in central Victoria.
In 2025, BDAC celebrated the opening of a new, multi-million-dollar mixed medical facility, providing better access to healthcare for Aboriginal families in Bendigo and the Loddon Mallee region. Named Bunjil Wellbeing Centre, the mixed-use health facility is twice the size of the previous medical facility managed by BDAC. It offers a variety of health services spread across its two storeys, catering to the growing needs of BDAC and the regional community.
Layering on top of the existing site
The previously established buildings at BDAC converge toward the new sunken forecourt outside the wellbeing centre, which, with its rounded design motif, reflects traditional spaces for gathering and yarning. Enveloped by the outstretched wings of the wellbeing centre, the sheltered landscape feels cosy and secure. It provides an ideal central meeting place that visually connects the new and existing buildings, reinforcing the values of community and togetherness.
Architectural attention to detail
The landscaped courtyard is formed through a semicircle of curved concrete retaining wall modules that double as extended outdoor seating on the lower side. Two concrete stairways bridge the transition into the courtyard from the ground level above, leading visitors past paved circular garden beds towards the entrance of the new facility.
Anston was contracted by head contractor AW Nicholson to deliver the precast concrete elements in the forecourt, which were all custom-made to meet the exact design specifications for this important project. The colours of the precast seating, stair modules and paved garden beds were produced using a special concrete mix design, presenting a reddish concrete hue punctuated by fragments of blue-grey stone aggregates.
Award-winning construction
The delivery of Bunjil Wellbeing Place earned Nicholson Construction the prestigious title of Regional Builder of the Year, awarded by Master Builders Victoria in August 2026.
The project has also been shortlisted in the Victorian Architecture Awards (regional prize) and the Australian Interior Design Awards, demonstrating that modern architectural innovation and design excellence can be achieved in a project that places great significance on history and culture.
