Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub
“The new Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub will be a wonderful public asset, and a lasting testament to the vision of the State and Local Government to invest in their community first.”
Neil Appleton, Director of Lyons
The new Galkangu – Bendigo Govhub contributes to the continual growth of Bendigo by establishing a stronger, more efficient public sector that will create jobs and deliver government services to the community. Opened in 2023, Bendigo Govhub is a state-of-the-art community asset and workplace, consolidating the current office of the City of Bendigo and other regional state government agencies. Our design team met the multifaceted brief by engaging with the community of Bendigo and collaborating with Development Victoria and Regional Development during the design phase. We also had the great pleasure of working with representatives for the Dja Dja Warrung people on the integration of ideas of Country and the local spoken language into the design.
The result is a building with an identity unique to Bendigo, one that draws upon its rich heritage and builds upon its plans for a thriving future. The design transforms operations for both customers and employees, breaking down silos and creating a one-stop-shop for community services and a hub for the local community. Underpinned by sustainable solutions that will not only decrease running costs and improve environmental footprint, the design enhances wellbeing and strengthens connectivity within the community.
Workplace
Neil Appleton
Adam Pustola
Development Victoria
Regional Development Victoria
Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo, Victoria
Located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people
20,000 square metres
Designed to be 5 star Green Star
Complete, 2023
Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub offers an elegant solution to reduce running costs, encourage sustainable transport, streamline processes and elicit agile working methodologies. The design features an innovative exposed timber structural frame chosen for its environmental, construction and healthy workplace benefits. Sourced from a local supplier, the use of mass structural timber throughout comes with a unique set of challenges to navigate the curves and complex angles of the building. The design overcomes these challenges to reveal a building predominantly built in timber with unique and complex geometries. Efficient indoor air quality systems, solar panels and water and energy monitoring systems also contribute to a sustainable design.
As one of Australia’s fastest growing regional cities, Bendigo requires architecture to match its growth and prepare for its future. Our site-specific design for Galkangu – Bendigo Govhub creates a key new public realm at the heart the city for its community. Our design invigorates the State and Local government public sector workforce with a contemporary and therapeutic workplace. Centralising the delivery of a range of government services, the new design accommodates up to 1000 public sector staff. A unified customer service area, concierge, open cafe and exhibition spaces will enable connections and the delivery of services for the community. Our design for customer services features a singular, continuous counter, enabling a hybrid model of service. Almost solely designed in timber with maximum views to nature, the working spaces are naturally warm and comfortable. Large flexible floors, fewer walls and integrated departments help to break down operational silos and encourage sustainable and productive ways of working. Each space is designed to be flexible, allowing more of the building to be used more often.
The Galkangu – Bendigo Govhub design takes advantage of every moment to connect back to its community. The design is sensitive to the cultural heritage of its surroundings and uses local blueststones and granites to reflect the unique identity of Bendigo. We utilized a campus style design to integrate the project culturally, historically and socially into the urban fabric of the city. A civic forecourt on Lyttleton Terrace and a pocket park on Mundy Street are designed to transform an inactive streetfront into community meeting points. A strong landscape theme is consistent throughout the building with an internal courtyard and several strategic cut-outs providing multiple opportunities for people to meet, relax and engage with the space. Prioritisation of pedestrians on surrounding roads, end of trip bike facilities and linkages to the surrounding bike networks all contribute to integrating the Bendigo Govhub into the community.
Neil Appleton, Practice Executive, Directors
View Neil's ProfileAdam Pustola, Practice Executive, Senior Principals
View Adam's Profile
Designed by Lyons in collaboration with Haworth Tompkins and Silver Thomas Hanley, the boundary-breaking ECU City campus was unveiled in 2021 and early works are now underway. Recently, Sean Henriques, Program Director at ECU spoke with Architecture AU on his experience working with Lyons.
As 2021 comes to a close, Corbett Lyon addressed the studio last week and reflected on the year that was.
Lyons Graduate, Ashlee Murphy, wins the AIA VIC Graduate Prize
The Emerging Architects and Graduate Network have invited architects to consider a message they would share with their younger selves, and this week they’ve shared words from Lyons Director, Carey Lyon.
Join us in congratulating five new monumental appointments at Lyons. William Brouwers, Tess O'Meara, Andim Taip, Joanne Hutchinson and Anderson Matthews.
Join us in congratulating four of Victoria’s newest registered Architects.
