Challenge

Gunnedah Shire Council secured federal funding to develop a koala and wildlife hospital and sanctuary on a bushland site west of town. DunnHillam were engaged to deliver the masterplan, building design, infrastructure, and coordinate specialist consultants through planning, tender, and construction.

Response

A central building houses four functions—reception, café, hospital and administration—under a single roof supported by a grid of portal frames. This layout creates clear sightlines and intuitive wayfinding, while separating yet connecting hospital and admin areas for operational efficiency.

Surrounding the building are walking tracks that work with the existing topography to enable visitors to get close to animals whilst also affording distant views to the ranges beyond. Visitors can stay in the campground areas serviced by amenities that double as bushfire shelter. Volunteers accommodation and a caretakers residents support the sanctuary, and are located to sit discreetly in the existing site whilst preserving as much of the existing mature tree canopy as possible. A regenerative and staged project, this will be a regional destination and boost the local economy.