La Perouse Mission Church stands as a testament to the legacy of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community.  Despite decades of relentless destructive pressure under the mechanisms of colonisation, the La Perouse community found a remarkable capacity to endure, adapt and participate. Today the local community maintains continuity of culture and deep connections to community and country.

With the 1930’s Church and its associated buildings now in an unoccupiable state, Design 5 were engaged as part of a multi-stage process of retaining the heritage and histories of the site while returning the facility to community use.  A Conservation Management Plan was prepared for the State Heritage-listed site, followed by a Heritage Impact Statement and Schedule of Works to facilitate the restoration of the church.

The community identified the need for a new facility to complement the church.  The decision was made to replace the existing associated buildings with a new structure – a gathering space with the capacity and flexibility to bring the community together on site and meet its changing needs.   Design 5 is now in the process of developing conceptual design strategies which will be shaped by a process of close consultation with the La Perouse Aboriginal Community.