The Quandamooka Arts and Culture Centre (QUAMPI)
Nestled within Deanbilla Bay, Gumpi (Dunwich) on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), QUAMPI is a celebration of Quandamooka People’s art, culture, and storytelling.
QUAMPI is a First Nations–owned and operated cultural facility that marks a new chapter for the island—moving beyond its sand mining history to celebrate the enduring connection of the Quandamooka People to Minjerribah. The Quandamooka People, Traditional Owners of Moreton Bay, have cared for this land for thousands of years, a cultural responsibility that continues today. The centre’s unique name, QUAMPI, references the local pearl oyster shell—a native food source and totem of the Quandamooka People. This connection to Country informed the project from its inception, shaping its identity, design, and materiality.
Bligh Tanner worked in collaboration with the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), COX Architecture, JHA Services Engineering, and QBuild to deliver the concept design, guided by input from the local community. Responding to the island’s landscape and environment, the project prioritises locally sourced materials while supporting the regional economy. Layered rammed earth and sand form key elements of the building, grounding it in its setting and creating a distinctive entryway. The “Elders Space and Community Circle,” located adjacent to the facility, provides a place for teaching and knowledge sharing. A selection of native timbers forms a ‘woven’ façade that filters light as it shifts throughout the day.
Designed as more than a gallery, QUAMPI functions as a cultural hub, incorporating exhibition spaces, workshops, a large entry foyer, an Elders Space, a café, and a gallery shop. The project reflects an integrated design approach that brings together culture, place, and contemporary architecture.
