The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence is the redevelopment of the historic former Redfern Public School by the Indigenous Land Corporation as a multi-use residential, training and education facility catering for both the local community and rural and interstate groups.
The significant heritage buildings and vacant areas of the site have been integrated and developed for five major activities, each supporting the role of the centre.
The Eora Campus provides dormitory accommodation for visiting educational and sporting groups of up to 100 people, with associated sleeping, dining, classroom and recreational areas. This activity uses three of the refurbished buildings of the former Redfern Public School. A high-quality football training field, chiefly for use by the Eora Campus facility is located on the western playground of the former school, facing Cope Street.
The YMCA operated Eora Sports, Arts and Recreation Centre, a purpose-built three level multi-use sporting complex, includes indoor sports halls and activity rooms, a heated 25m pool and associated change and storage areas.
Gadigal House’s flexible space, leased for office accommodation for tenants with a relationship to the primary sporting/educational uses of the site, and to the Indigenous educational group The Exodus Foundation, occupies the fourth building of the former School.
The design was extensively workshopped with a range of stakeholders. A full Heritage Assessment and Impact Study were prepared by TZG as part of the work.
NCIE was officially opened by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in March 2010.
