The Department of Communities has unveiled the designs for the highly anticipated Geraldton Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation project, developed by local business Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects.
The development will feature a total of 44 units comprising 16 single, 14 family and 14 universally accessible rooms and can host up to 100 guests at any time.
Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation (Short Stay) is designed to provide culturally appropriate, short-term accommodation for Aboriginal people visiting regional centres to access services, or for business, cultural or family reasons.
The design of the Geraldton Short Stay has been influenced by important heritage and cultural considerations, including songlines, sacred sites and watering holes.
Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects have undertaken extensive community and stakeholder consultation to ensure the design meets the heritage, cultural requirements and considerations of Aboriginal people who will use it.
The layout of the development groups individual and self-sustained dwellings together to ensure privacy and safety. The design fosters inclusivity, flexibility to respond to family considerations and enables the accommodation of as many guests as possible.
Also included in the design are guest communal cooking areas, a communal dinning space, laundries, solar panels, children’s nature play and a half basketball court.
Short stays have been operating successfully for some years in Broome, Derby and Kalgoorlie-Boulder, with three more in various stages of planning for Geraldton, Kununurra and Perth.
The Geraldton Short Stay project is expected to create an estimated 96 construction jobs and generate significant income for the region’s economy.
The State Government expects to release a restricted tender in April 2023 which will inform a final offer to build the Geraldton Short Stay.
Stay update to date on Geraldton Short Stay developments online at the Geraldton Short Stay webpage.