Indigenous-led education centre wins World’s Best Completed Building for Higher Education and Research

The Indigenous-led educational centre, the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, in Yorta Yorta Country, Shepparton, Victoria. Image credit: Wayne Quilliam

This is a further update to a media release first published on 2 May 2025 and updated on 1 August 2025.

The Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, an Indigenous-led education hub in Shepparton, has won the World’s Best Completed Building in the category of Higher Education and Research.

Travis Morgan, Empowered Communities Regional Coordinator at the Kaiela Institute, accepted the award at the World Architecture Festival in Miami. The Kaiela Institute is a founding partner of the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, alongside the University of Melbourne and the Rumbalara Football Netball Club.

The award recognises the unique identity of the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence. Its selection in the higher education and research category reflects the Centre’s next stage of development, the completion of the Knowledge Pathways Centre.

Professor Barry Judd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at the University of Melbourne, said he was thrilled this important regional hub was being celebrated both locally and globally.

“This community space will be a place of knowledge generation and safe-keeping for generations of Yorta Yorta.” Professor Judd said.

“Our relationship with Yorta Yorta peoples is something we hold with great respect and care. The completion of the Knowledge Pathways Centre will mark a significant moment in our shared journey to strengthen Indigenous knowledge and education in the region.”

The award continues a remarkable first year for the Centre, which has also won four honours at the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Awards.

The centre took home an Educational Architecture Award, a commendation in the Urban Design and the Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture categories and the Emerging Architect Regional Prize.

The Munarra Centre, which was designed by ARM Architecture, opened in July last year. It is a state-of-the-art building incorporating Aboriginal knowledge into its design and programs, symbolising decades of effort to place First Nations at the forefront of higher education.

Aligned with the University of Melbourne's Murmuk Djerring Indigenous Strategy, the foundational partnership with Munarra is crucial to embedding Indigenous knowledge and self-determination into higher education to close the educational gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

It is instrumental in the Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity and Productivity Plan, a 15-year strategy focused on regional self-determination and economic inclusiveness. This collaborative effort involves local government, academia and the community to foster future leaders, empower and strengthen the community and, ultimately, bring long-term economic benefits to the region.

The University of Melbourne's connection with the Centre underlines a history of more than two decades of involvement and collaboration with the Goulburn Valley region.

Construction of the Munarra Centre was made possible through a partnership between the State Government with an investment of $30.2 million, Rumbalara Football Netball Club, the Kaiela Institute and the University of Melbourne, which contributed $6.65 million.

ARM Architecture is an award-winning architecture, urban design, master planning and interior design practice with an international reputation for creating culturally significant buildings and precincts that stretch the boundaries of architectural and urban thought.