Building the Building

Gracing Darwin’s skyline with its unique sloping architecture, Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new city campus has officially opened its gallery doors, the first display a tribute to the building’s construction, reflecting on half a century of history.

^{By Jenna Kirkham}

OFFICIALLY NAMED DANALA (dillybag), meaning a place to house knowledge, the CDU Education and Community Precinct (ECP) has been a long time in the works, with residents eager to peek inside the building's unique shaped structure.

Curious locals are welcome to tour Building the building – a display housing a collection of over 90 photographs that highlight the building’s construction and the university’s longstanding history.

Pieced together by nationally recognised curator Janet Parfenovics, the display uses photographs, drone images, newspaper clippings and archival footage to present a rich account of CDU’s 50-year presence.

“The display really is a celebration of the vision and determination of the many people who, since the 1960s, dared to dream big – to create a truly independent university for the Northern Territory,” says Parfenovics.

Not without its challenges, the display includes rare footage of the unveiling of the original Casuarina Campus by Prince Philip in 1974, which was destroyed not long after by Cyclone Tracy.

Building the building also showcases works from the CDU Art Collection and Art Gallery. These works, along with interstate pieces, will make up the galleries official launch exhibition, From the ground up, pegged for next February.

UNTIL SAT 25 JAN
INFO cdu.edu.au

^{Header & thumbnail: The external sloping façade of Danala | Education and Community Precinct, Charles Darwin University featuring porcelain tiles, horizontal aluminium louvres and various types of cladding to reflect the harsh Darwin weather, February 2024. Photo: Charles Darwin University. 
Inset: Students working and relaxing on campus, at the Northern Territory University, 1990s. Photo: Charles Darwin University Library – Arafura Research Archive}