Bajirru! there you all are, hello! From the Yanyuwa language of Balarinji’s origin community Borroloola NT

Jinangu awara wabarrangu barra kalu-wingka marnijinju wabudala kari-nguthundawabarrangu jinangu Australia li-wulu marnaji barra liyi-Yanyuwawu awara li-Marranbala li-Arrwangala li-Gudanji jinangu awara Burrulula marnaji yamulhu

Our Country we belong to is Borroloola. Yanyuwa, Marra, Gudanji and Garrawa people.We welcome everyone to this land Australia.

Yanyuwa elder Samuel Evans Jamika

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. are respectfully advised this website contains references, artworks and images of people who have passed

Bendigo Bank

Workplace Aboriginal Art Strategy

#Community engagement #Curation #Interiors #Public art #Workplace

Artist

Sam Richards

Year

2025

Location

Melbourne

Balarinji was engaged by Bendigo Bank, Facilitate Corporation and Hassell Architects to develop an integrated Aboriginal art strategy as well as curate and co-create public art as part of Bendigo Bank’s new office fitout at 555 Collins Street in Melbourne.

Working in co-design with locally-connected Wurundjeri traditional custodians and knowledge holders, Balarinji developed an Aboriginal art strategy that established cultural design themes to inform the curation and co-creation of artworks. The strategy centred on meaningful cultural connection to Place and honouring the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people and their living culture.

The design themes included:

Living Country and Community – Culture as a lived experience.

Layers of Country – Ensuring spaces are vibrant, connected, meaningful and deeply connected to Place.

Birrarung Identity – The lifeblood that supports our communities, flowing through the shared spaces.

Language – The importance of language to tell stories of Place, bringing understanding, authenticity, connection to each other and supporting cultural learning and pride.

Integrated artworks

Balarinji appointed Wurundjeri artist Sam Richards to co-create the integrated artworks based on her original artwork, 'Bargoongagat Ballert – Gather Strong'.

This artwork represents connection and community energy, working together on common ground. It is about all the things that inspire us to be the best we can be, and bringing that to the team and creating a positive environment for all to share and celebrate in.

Foyer

Acknowledgement of Country Projection

The office journey begins with an artwork floor projection and Acknowledgement of Country, translated into Woi-wurrung language by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

This digital welcome sets the tone for the workplace, anchoring the space in cultural respect, authentic engagement and connection to Wurundjeri Country.

Meeting Rooms

Window Glazing and Language Naming

Glazing for two meeting rooms feature a continuation of the graphical elements from the original artwork. The glazing represents Birrarung identity, supporting and sustaining one another through coming together in shared spaces the way the river supports life.

The meeting room names were selected in consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

Balit Murrup – Strong Spirit
Balit Marra – Strong Mob / Community

Social Hub

Custom Rug

At the heart of the workplace is a six-metre circular custom rug featuring the artwork. It represents the layers of Country, grounding and revitalising through deep connection to Country and community.

Artist

Samantha Richards

Sam is a proud Indigenous woman from the Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung cultural groups.

Sam started her own business in April of 2019 called ‘Connecting Two Worlds’ with the aim of sharing traditional and modern Indigenous culture through education and art. She is passionate about teaching students in childcare, primary and high school about the people that lived on this land in the past, and about the people that are still here today, along with many traditions that are still practiced, and share the knowledge of ones that are no longer.

Sam also shares traditional culture through contemporary Indigenous art in the form of murals, canvas and digital works that utilise traditional Wurundjeri and Victorian symbols to create stories, share knowledge, and bring culture to the forefront, allowing it to be immersed into modern culture for all to see.