NBP was approached in 2017 by the Central Desert community of Yuendumu to design and construct a Nature Playground for the Yuendumu Primary School. Due to the success of this project, NBP were asked to design and build a Nature Play area and Artistic Entrance statement for the Yuendumu Child and Family Centre.

The Masterplan was collaboratively designed onsite with the local community and elders to ensure their desired cultural, amenity and play elements were incorporated into the overall design. The Master Design allowed for the 2 different playgrounds – one for the Family area, and one for the Early Childhood Centre, plus an Artistic Entry Statement.  Cultural elements incorporated into these design works included baby smoking circle with fire rocks and ground logs, Artistic Entrance statement representing local animal totems and mothers, plus a Coolamon style baby rocker. These designs were led by the local community.

As a large and complex project, there were remote logistics to manage.

The team spent 3 solid weeks completing the project, staying onsite, with the assistance of the local community machinery and workers. 

Yuendumu is a stunning natural outback location, and the new Nature Play space blends in beautifully to the natural and cultural surroundings, and adds amazing new play amenity to the Family Centre, ELC and local community. The local elders were very supportive and extremely satisfied with the final outcome for their community. NBP is very proud to be part of bringing quality and much needed play facilities that blend and enhance connection to local culture for this remote community.

Nature Play Elements:   ELC AREA: Timber cubby climber, decking, sand and water play timber troughs, ground and balancing logs, climbing logs, steppers.

FaFT (babies) AREA: Water play timber troughs and rocks; abacus, timber cradle swing, cubby shelters, fire and smoking circle, baby timber rocker with carved coolamon.

Entry Statement Elements:         Large Lizard timber sculpture (Mulyurlinji), 3 Steel Sculptures totem Artworks (Marlu, Aboriginal Woman with baby in Coolamon, Yankirri) with rock surrounds, vertical and ground logs.