Tranby Aboriginal College, Glebe.

Tranby Aboriginal College, located in Gadigal country, Glebe, New South Wales, is a significant educational institution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Milliken Carpet and Tranby Aboriginal College – A Celebration of Cultural Heritage and Design.

For over 65 years, Tranby Aboriginal College has served as a community hub where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people come together to learn, share, and positively impact their community. The recent revitalisation of Tranby Aboriginal College aimed to integrate Indigenous narratives into the design of its spaces, creating a culturally rich and welcoming environment for students, teachers, and visitors. Tranby’s ethos supports “Making Positive Change in Your Community” and focuses on empowerment through education of relevant and culturally meaningful skills that can be applied and shared to strengthen communities. The revitalisation of Tranby’s campus includes a new library, bookshop, oral history recording room, AV meeting room and office accommodation.

The Designer’s Deep Connection to the Experience for the People of Tranby Aboriginal College.

The primary objective of the design was to honour Indigenous heritage through materials and design elements that reflect the cultural significance of the college. Generate Interiors , Australia’s only independent 100% Indigenous-owned commercial interior design consultancy, was selected for this project.

Founder and Design Director Jamie Wanless is a proud Kamilaroi man, remarking, “My Aboriginal background has influenced my design in many ways. Connection to country is important as I grew up in the country, and the landscape has always been an important reference point for me as a designer. I always try to explore opportunities to incorporate colours, patterns and shapes that evoke country into each project, particularly when working with Indigenous organisations such as Tranby”.

DLG SHAPE , an Indigenous builder, managed the project’s delivery, ensuring it remained true to its cultural and community-focused goals. Their efforts also support a vision of a more equitable Australia, promoting Indigenous independence through employment and commercial activity.

Authentically Incorporating Indigenous Narratives with Milliken’s’ Reconciliation Through Design’ Initiative.

The team at Generate Interiors were inspired to select the Sandhills Collection for Tranby Aboriginal College due to its authentic representation of Indigenous narratives and its alignment with Milliken’s “Reconciliation Through Design” initiative.

The Sandhills Collection, created in collaboration with Indigenous textile designer Helena Geiger , captures Helena’s spiritual journey and connection to the natural environment of Central Australia. The collection’s design showcases the raw beauty and ethereal energy of the landscapes Helena experienced, articulated through traditional Batik textile techniques.

This collaboration not only highlights the unique and ancient Australian outback but also underscores the commitment to incorporating Indigenous perspectives and stories into the interior design, fostering a deeper understanding and respect for the rich cultural heritage of the land.

The Social Impact of Milliken’s ‘Reconciliation Through Design’ Initiative.

Recognising the pivotal role commercial interiors can play in reconciliation narratives, Milliken is at the forefront of promoting the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts communities through collaborative projects. Milliken’s ‘Reconciliation Through Design’ Initiative shifts the conversation to integrate Indigenous design perspectives into commercial interior design, celebrating traditions and culture.

By fostering these collaborations, Milliken amplifies the rich heritage and incredible talent within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, bringing their art to life in commercial environments. This initiative magnifies the beauty and significance of Indigenous art on one of the largest canvases possible – the floor. Through this work, Milliken not only enhances spaces with culturally rich and meaningful designs but also champions the visibility and recognition of Indigenous artists and their contributions to contemporary design.

Through this initiative, the artists receive ongoing royalties from the collection sales, further supporting Tranby Aboriginal College’s mission to enhance individuals and strengthen communities.

“It is a great initiative and provides economic opportunities which empower Indigenous artists and communities”. Jamie Wanless, Founder and Design Director of Generate Interiors.

A Journey Through Country Creating Design and Architectural Harmony.

The organic attributes of the Sandhills carpet collection perfectly blended with the curvature of Tranby Aboriginal College’s architecture. The design of the buildings, inspired by the flow of rivers and streams, provided a sense of interconnectedness, mirroring the natural environment. The flowing elements within the Sandhills Collection are also a reminder of yarning circles, symbolising connection and community.

The designers selected the Sandhills design for the oral history room in the Paperbark colourway. Through texture and depth, it evokes the Australian desert’s undulating hills, rocky chasms, and desert sand. The Passage design in the meeting room symbolises the fluid movement of the desert’s natural forms, with crackled linework expressing chasms and rock faces and dot patterns animating grassy tufts and shrubs. In the library and reading areas, the multidimensional Bush Seed design combines speckled impressions from water droplets, animal markings, and scattered seedpods.

The floor coverings in Spinifex, Red Earth and Paperbark colourways complement the earthy interior finishes. Sandhills’ Bush Seed and Passage designs meld with the Safari design, revealing the desert sand’s granular, unrestrained composition. These designs define zones and accentuate areas within meeting and collaboration spaces, embodying the desert landscape’s natural harmony and timeless beauty.

Cultural Safety and Acoustic Comfort Fostering Wellbeing.

For the students and teachers at Tranby Aboriginal College, walking on the Sandhills carpet is akin to walking on country. The Indigenous patterns and colours provide a culturally safe space, ensuring students feel welcome and at home. The design fosters a sense of belonging and respect for cultural heritage, which is crucial for the well-being of the college community. At Tranby Aboriginal College, creating an environment that fosters sensory comfort and cultural safety is essential for students and staff.

The acoustic comfort achieved with Milliken’s WellBAC? Cushion Backed carpet contributed to the quiet ambience of the spaces, which may otherwise have experienced reverberation from the curvaceous nature of the walls. This reinforces Milliken’s commitment to designing the quietest floors crucial in educational and cultural settings.

All Milliken carpets are made with WellBAC? Cushion Backing, which provides acoustic technology that reduces noise levels by 50%, promoting a serene atmosphere conducive to calmness and concentration.

This tranquillity is particularly beneficial for students engaged in collaborative activities, allowing them to immerse themselves fully in their learning and cultural exploration. A quieter environment enhances efficiency and effective communication for staff, which is crucial in a supportive learning environment. Additionally, the inclusion of WellBAC? cushion backing provides underfoot comfort, significantly enhancing the sensory experience and the feeling of walking on country, ensuring a culturally safe and welcoming space for all.

Enhancing Well-being and Hygiene with Milliken’s MGUARD+ Self-Sanitising Technology.

At Tranby Aboriginal College, Milliken’s MGUARD +, the world’s first self-sanitising carpet, set new standards in hygiene and safety for educational environments. This revolutionary technology offers unparalleled cleanliness, providing an extra layer of assurance for the well-being of Tranby Aboriginal College’s community.

Developed in collaboration with HealthGuard, MGUARD+ is free from harmful chemicals, offering long-term protection against pathogens while prioritising safety and sustainability. Its innovative treatment, created by Dr. Zulfiqar Khan and Dr. Christopher Harvey, effectively neutralises viruses and bacteria upon contact, ensuring a clean and hygienic environment. With over 300 available patterns and unlimited custom designs, MGUARD+ seamlessly integrates into the diverse aesthetic preferences of all built environments. Rigorous testing protocols validate its efficacy, showcasing impressive effectiveness against viruses.

The revitalisation of Tranby Aboriginal College has achieved the objective of incorporating Indigenous perspectives in commercial interior design, simultaneously honouring the heritage of our First Nations people. It has also created a positive social impact for the college community and the collaborating artists in Milliken’s ‘Reconciliation Through Design’ Initiative. Generate Interiors’ positive working relationship with Milliken is demonstrated by numerous completed projects that showcase their appreciation for Indigenous carpet collections.

Milliken continues to collaborate closely with Generate Interiors to ensure the best possible design, cost, and program outcomes and is currently working on further projects in the pipeline. This partnership underscores their shared commitment to excellence and cultural respect in every project they undertake.

Photography by Tyrone Branigan