Thanks to a group of students from the University of Canberra (UC), the Aboriginal community has some new and exciting ideas on how to progress with the development of Jigamy Farm.
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A landscape and architecture exhibition of campground designs connected to the Bundian Way was conducted at Jigamy Farm last Thursday, November 10. As part of the exhibition, nine final year architecture students at UC presented their designs for the Gateway to the Bundian Way.
The Faculty of Arts and Design in the University of Canberra initiated a landscape architecture graduation studio project, led by Dr Scott Heyes, Gay Williamson and Rhonda Nichols, enabling students to develop potential campground designs for Jigamy Farm as part of the Bundian Way’s development as a tourism enterprise.
The group of students spent a week camping at Jigamy Farm in July. For the following 12 weeks they worked closely with local Aboriginal community members to propose and complete their designs.
Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Chief Executive Officer Chris Bird said these designs will give the community an idea of what could be done at Jigamy.
“They came up with really interesting ways to interpret the land and include past and contemporary Aboriginal culture,” he said.
“They looked at the cultural significance of the area and really tried to incorporated it into the designs. Now the local community has nine difference designs we can look at and cherry pick ideas from to finalise a design for Jigamy.”
He also said it was a really positive experience for the students, many of whom had never had this kind of connection with Aboriginal people before.
“It was a really important and eye opening experience. It’s unfortunate that some people don’t get to experience this type of connection until later in life,” University of Canberra student Michelle Anderson said.
“I’d really like to thank the local community and Twofold Aboriginal Corporation for welcoming us in and allowing us the opportunity to work together,” student Kate Grace said.
Around 50 people attended the exhibition event with local Elders Shirley Aldridge, Ossie Cruse and Liddy Stewart saying it was excellent to see young students present their good ideas of what the land at Jigamy could look like in the future.
The exhibition of all the student’s designs will be on display at the Mamatja Community Centre at Jigamy Farm for the coming weeks and Mr Bird is encouraging the community get down and have a look at what Jigamy could become.
