The project deploys an Australian-first construction system: all external walls and roofs will be prefabricated timber-framed panels filled with hemp or straw. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027.

A gathering place for Ngemba Country

Brewarrina sits on the unceded lands of Ngemba Country and carries one of the oldest built environments in the world. Baiame’s Ngunnhu—the Brewarrina fish traps—is an assembly of dry-stone rock weirs constructed in the Barwon River to allow fish to be herded and caught, with the structure estimated to be 40,000 years old. Located roughly 100 kilometres from any neighbouring town, Brewarrina is also a community confronting significant social disadvantage, particularly among young people.

The Multipurpose Sports Centre is conceived as a contemporary gathering place that responds to both contexts: the deep cultural record of the site and the present-day needs of the community. Studio lead, Design, Michael Jones, and project lead, Sarah Veas, are leading the commission for AJC Architects. The design team describes it as an opportunity to create civic infrastructure that respects Baiame’s Ngunnhu by treating both resources and people with care, and as a chance for the town to launch confidently into a new era.

Brewarrina Multipurpose Sports Centre exterior render | Credit: AJC Architects

Programme and spatial arrangement

The building accommodates a multipurpose indoor court, gymnastics hall, youth hub, and gym. The entry foyer operates as a breezy glazed community hub, with the remainder of the building arranged as two halls on either side. One hall contains the indoor sports court; the other houses the gym and gymnastics space.

Within the second hall, smaller functions, including changerooms, offices, and a kiosk, are distributed as freestanding pods, referred to as 'goolies', the local term for boulders in the river. The pods act as space dividers between the larger uses and can be moved or removed over time to accommodate changing community needs, without requiring structural alterations to the building envelope.

Biogenic materials and low-carbon construction

In what the design team describes as an Australian first, all external walls and roofs will be constructed from prefabricated timber-framed panels filled with hemp or straw. Straw-filled panels draw on agricultural waste for strong acoustic and thermal performance, supporting a circular economy and providing supplementary income for regional farmers. Hempcrete panels contribute carbon sequestration alongside fire resistance and durability. Both systems enable rapid on-site installation, which is critical at this distance from major supply chains, and allow for eventual disassembly and reuse.

The primary structure uses a laminated timber portal frame and a lightweight steel screw-pile footing system. Windows and doors will be timber framed using an Australian engineered hardwood product. Internal finishes include linoleum flooring, wood wool acoustic ceilings, and low-carbon lining boards manufactured from recycled packaging waste.

Aluminium, ceramic tiles, plasterboard, paint and laminate have been eliminated from the specification. Concrete and steel use has been substantially reduced. These two materials together account for approximately 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making their near-elimination a meaningful contribution to the project’s carbon position.

Brewarrina Multipurpose Sports Centre interior render showing goolies pods | Credit: AJC Architects

Climate response

Brewarrina experiences around 65 days per year above 35 degrees Celsius, with temperatures frequently approaching 50 degrees. The thick biogenic envelope is central to the thermal strategy, providing insulation, moisture regulation, and chemical-free interiors. Cooling is managed by a ‘Climate Wizard’ indirect evaporative cooling system, which uses 75% less energy than conventional refrigerated air-conditioning. Rooftop solar panels will generate sufficient energy to power the building under expected operating conditions.

Brewarrina Multipurpose Sports Centre exterior render | Credit: AJC Architects

Planning approval was received in July 2026, and the project is on track to break ground in early 2027.

Images: AJC Architects / Supplied

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