The Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence is a world-leading, First Nations-led education, sporting and community gathering space in Shepparton, on Yorta Yorta Country.

The project is a result of the vision and determination by the local community and was shaped by an extensive co-design process to support and platform educational, community and cultural programs. The design team, led by ARM Architecture in collaboration with Emergent Studios, the client, stakeholders and consultant team, worked within a process of sustained co-design, involving ongoing workshops, gatherings and consultation engagement with community member groups and representatives. Engagement took place over 12 months and involved the input of over 1,000 community members.

The design features extensive artworks by members of the community, representing cultural narratives of the centre and developed in participatory workshops Led by Kaiela Arts and facilitated by Spacecraft Studio. The landscape features local plant species and materials, nominated by local community elders for their cultural uses and roles in forming a connection to Country.