Aboriginal “Country”: An Implicit Critique of Terra Firma and Traditional Architectural Practices

Abstract

This paper draws on creative research conducted with members of Victoria’s Indigenous communities to explore the notion of Aboriginal “Country” as an implicit critique of the European concept of terra firma and the architectural notion of “site”. Our research and discussion are motivated by a desire amongst a number of members of the Victorian Traditional Owner groups to create an Indigenous Cultural Knowledge and Education Centre in Melbourne. With this in mind, we also discuss the evolution of the Indigenous Cultural Centre in Australia and the challenges faced by the architects who design them, as well as by academics and researchers who seek to do the background research necessary before such a centre can be developed.