Blaklash

Connecting to Country begins with listening to the Traditional Custodians who hold stories of place. That spirit of listening and learning shaped a day in Gimuy (Cairns), where Troy Casey, Owen Cafe and Tahlia Steadman from the Blaklash team, alongside members of the Cox Architecture, CA Architects and Cairns Regional Council teams, joined Gimuy Elder and Traditional Custodian Uncle Peter ‘Bumi’ Hyde. Together, they gathered materials from Country and built a bulmba, a traditional home or shelter, under Uncle Bumi’s guidance, following each step as he shared his knowledge. One of the most meaningful moments came when Uncle Bumi sat beneath the finished bulmba on the lawns of the Cairns Courthouse, a site of mixed emotion, justice and injustice, for local First Nations people. Placing the bulmba here was a powerful act of reclaiming space and honouring the stories that continue to shape Gimuy. #Blaklash #Gimuy #TraditionalCustodians

Exciting developments are underway at Blaklash HQ. Construction has begun on our new West End office, and we’re excited to be sharing space once again with Aboriginal Art Co. In this behind-the-scenes look, Blaklash Founder Amanda Hayman and Associate Director Erin McDonald walk through the design thinking behind the fitout. Erin’s interior direction draws on the paperbark trees onsite, creating a palette of soft tones and natural textures that shape a calm, grounded atmosphere. With a “less is more” approach guiding every decision, the space includes a central kitchen and event space, gallery spaces, and boardroom and office spaces to create a hub for the two businesses. Aboriginal Art Co will establish a ground-floor gallery, alongside a mezzanine-level gallery set to host a program of new exhibitions in the coming year. We can’t wait to welcome you into our new space in 2026.

Last month, Blaklash Principal Designer Owen Cafe spoke at DARK: The 2025 Festival of Landscape Architecture, hosted by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). Brought to life by Directors Simone Bliss, Jerry de Gryse and Miriam Shevland, the festival offered space to examine the shadows within the profession, the light we’re working towards, and the need for genuine activism that extends beyond our roles as landscape architects. Alongside Dr Hannah Hopewell Owen joined the 'Bringing Light to the Dark' panel for a conversation about intuition, creativity and dark landscapes. The trio explored how blending analytical and instinctive thinking can spark innovation and strengthen our connection to place. "We have so much growing to do as a profession," Owen says, "and it's times like this that give me so much hope for the future." Images supplied by AILA and taken by Alex Soares from Hueman Group Media. #Blaklash #AILA #AustralianArchitecture

What does housing look like when community comes first? Housing design in First Nations communities hasn’t always reflected how community live, or what is valued most in a home. But that's starting to change across the state. Blaklash is working alongside Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council and the Department of Housing and Public Works to deliver the Woorabinda Design Principles. This is a tailored framework that captures community’s aspirations and needs, which until now have largely gone unactioned. These principles will guide all future infrastructure and housing design and construction projects in Woorabinda, helping create outcomes that genuinely reflect the people who live there. Recently, Troy Casey and Tahlia Steadman travelled to Woorabinda with design collaborators Designaa and Phorm Architecture to meet with residents in their homes and talk with the broader community about what works and what doesn't for housing. The community has been so generous with what they have shared and we are really looking forward to visiting again next week to keep the conversations going. #Blaklash #FirstNationsDesign #HousingDesign Paul Hotston, colin strydom

Blaklash is proud to celebrate our Managing Director, Troy Casey, who has been named a 2025 QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Outstanding Indigenous Australian Alumnus. This award recognises Troy’s leadership in embedding First Nations voices across design, placemaking and the creative industries, and his enduring impact supporting community and culture. Since graduating from QUT in 2009, Troy has led major public art and design projects through Blaklash that centre Indigenous storytelling, and he continues to support future generations to do the same through the QUT Blaklash Built Environment Scholarship. As QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil shared: “This recognition as Outstanding Indigenous Australian Alumnus celebrates his unwavering commitment to Indigenous agency, innovation and community-led impact.” Reflecting on the honour, Troy said: “It’s an opportunity to take a step back and look at the achievements. You rarely do that. You get stuck in the doing, but to be honest, I'm really proud of the things that we've done, both myself and my partner Amanda [Hayman]... the businesses that we've developed and the opportunities that we're creating for community." “For me, I'm just really proud and honoured." We'd also like to take the time to acknowledge the other incredible First Nations recipients: - Outstanding Community Impact Alumnus: Associate Professor Bianca Beetson, Director, First Nations at Queensland Museum. - Outstanding Indigenous Australian Alumnus: Brian Bero, Principal and Co-Founder at Jaramer Legal. It's an honour to be celebrating you alongside Troy 🖤 #Blaklash #QUT #QUTAlumnus #FirstNationsDesign #Indigenous

Nestled amongst the rainforest in Cape Tribulation, Queensland, the construction of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub continues to hum away. What started as a community dream of a space to come together has evolved into a designed-for-purpose community hub in the heart of Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country, brought to life by Cox Architecture and CA Architects. Swipe to reveal the inspiration behind the design → #Blaklash #CountryCentredDesign #FirstNationsDesign

Sky Country is a living map of stories, time and direction. It encapsulates the stars, the moon and the sun, and for First Nations peoples, it guides day-to-day decisions and practices. Take the Emu in the Sky, for instance, and the role this constellation plays as a seasonal indicator. In April and May, when the Emu first appears lying along the horizon, this tells us it's egg-laying season, and that emu eggs can be collected during this time of abundance. But later in the year, around June and July, the Emu appears upright in the sky, as if it's sitting on a nest. This reflects what male emus are doing on Country; sitting on and incubating eggs. During this time, the constellation guides us to stop collecting eggs, to ensure emu populations remain healthy. The Emu in the Sky reminds us of the interwoven rhythms of Country, where knowledge, environment and community move together as one. It’s this same sense of balance that shapes how Blaklash approaches design, to create spaces that stay connected to the patterns of Country. If you're interested in learning more about Sky Country, we recommend seeking out the work of Aboriginal astronomers Karlie Noon and Kirsten Banks, as well as the book 'First Knowledges Astronomy: Sky Country' by Noon and Krystal De Napoli, edited by Margo Neale. #Blaklash #CountryLedDesign #FirstNationsDesign #SkyCountry

Throughout Arup's Brisbane workplace, you'll find small, textural moments designed to prompt conversation and connect staff and visitors to traditional cultural practices. These include subtle marks in the textures of the furniture, designed by Blaklash and brought to life by FIVE MILE RADIUS, that carry the stories of Country into the smallest everyday moments. Watch on to hear Owen Cafe and Annaliese McCarthy delve deeper into the design process and the meaning behind these tactile touches. #Blaklash #FirstNationsDesign Arup, Hassell, Studio Ongarato, Keisha Leon

As the years roll by and we focus on new projects, we've been reflecting on ones we've completed in the past, and the conversations that continue long after they end. One that still lives strong is the 2022 Festival of Landscape Architecture: COUNTRY, an event we co-curated with LatStudios, Tristan Schultz (Relative Creative) and Claudia Taborda. Led entirely by First Nations facilitators, the festival created space for conversations around designing with Country, rethinking established approaches and embedding cultural understanding into professional practice. Three years on, we're still meeting people all over Australia and the world (we're talking in hidden corners of Italy) who carry memories of COUNTRY and speak highly of the festival. We'll always continue to build on the momentum from events like COUNTRY, and use the learnings to guide our work with community. Tristan Schultz | Kevin O'Brien | Troy Casey | Kaylie Salvatori | Elle Davidson | Greg Kitson | Dr Alayna Rā | Paul Herzich | Georgia Birks | Carol Vale | Sarah Lynn Rees | Deb Duthie | Owen Cafe | Erin McDonald | Craig Kerslake Wiradjuri Nation | Jefa Greenaway RAIA MDIA | Jordan Eaton | Nathan Brandrick | Mackenzie Saddler | Ezra Jacobs-Smith | Elisapeta Heta | Laree Barney | Dr Danièle Hromek | Angela Barney-Leitch | Tom Day | Des Cloake AILA | Jake Nash | Ripeka Walker #BlaklashProjects #CountryCentredDesign

Earlier this month, Blaklash hosted an intimate evening with artist Archie Moore, curator Ellie Buttrose and exhibition designer Kevin O'Brien – the brilliant minds behind kith and kin. Awarded the Golden Lion at La Biennale di Venezia 2024, this was the first time the exhibition had been shown since Venice. The work itself traces Kamilaroi and Bigambul heritage across 65,000+ years. As Archie Moore describes culture and in his work, past, present and future are interconnected. past, present and future are interconnected. By mapping tens of thousands of years of kin on a single continuum, Archie Moore invited the audience to experience time from a First Nations perspective. At Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, guests heard firsthand from Archie, Ellie and Kevin about the creation of kith and kin. We're grateful to everyone who joined us on the night, and for anyone still wanting to see it, make your way to GOMA as it's showing until 18 October 2026. #Blaklash #FirstNationsDesign #Exhibition