Geraldton Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation - frequently asked questions

Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation is a short term pay-per-stay accommodation option for Aboriginal people who travel to the city or regional centres to access services, or for business, cultural or family reasons. 

They are designed to be safe, culturally appropriate and affordable. Short Stays are not crisis accommodation, transitional housing, a direct or long-term response to homelessness, a medical service, or free.

The Geraldton Short Stay is located on the corner of Eastward and Blencowe Roads in Utakarra, on a portion of land that is vested in the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation.

The control and management of Bundiyarra Reserve was formally granted to Aboriginal people in 1992, and formally vested to Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation in 1994. The founding Elders held the view that a portion of the site should be reserved for short term accommodation to address the need for better housing and services for local Aboriginal people.

When identifying and considering potential locations to build the Geraldton Short Stay, the Department consulted a variety of stakeholders including Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance, Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation and the City of Greater Geraldton to ensure the appropriateness of any future site.

Due to its cultural and heritage significance, proximity to the Geraldton town centre, and the long-standing vision for short term accommodation to be provided onsite, the Department announced its intention to build the Geraldton Short Stay on Bundiyarra Reserve.

In July 2022, the Department entered into a 30-year ground lease agreement with Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation to use a portion of the land to build the short stay accommodation. 

‘Bundiyarra’ is taken from the Wajarri language and means ‘This is a good place to go’. 

The Bundiyarra site represents the Aboriginal community's views that the Geraldton Short Stay be welcoming, safe and culturally considerate of all language groups. 

In December 2023, following a restricted tender process, local Geraldton builder and Registered Aboriginal Business, GBSC Yurra Pty Ltd was appointed to build the Geraldton Short Stay.

Construction commenced in early 2024 and was completed in late 2025.

In July 2021, the Department appointed engagement specialists to engage with stakeholders to inform the size and build design of the Geraldton Short Stay. More than 70 regional stakeholders – including around 50 Aboriginal people – were consulted, with feedback provided through the sessions helping to shape the overall look and feel of the accommodation.

In late 2021, Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects held consultation sessions with Aboriginal communities, Elders, Traditional Owners and stakeholders across the Mid-West Gascoyne on the co-design of the build. The results from the sessions were released in June 2022.

Additionally, the Department completed its ‘place-based’ service design consultation and engagement in early 2023, seeking feedback from local service providers and potential guests to ensure the final design is fit-for-purpose and meets the important heritage and cultural needs and considerations of the Aboriginal people who will stay there.

This regionally responsive ‘place-based’ service model will define the outcomes expected of the service provider (operator) in responding to the needs of guests.

Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation was announced as the Geraldton Short Stay service provider in October 2025. The organisation has delivered programmes to benefit the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal people across the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Murchison regions since 1991. 

Geraldton-based firm Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects was appointed by the Department to design the Geraldton Short Stay. 

Following consultation with the local community and key stakeholders, the following considerations were incorporated into the building and landscaping design:

• The design of the Geraldton Short Stay, and the services offered by the service provider (operator) will ensure Aboriginal people will be at the forefront of the Short Stay.
• The design of the Geraldton Short Stay has been influenced by important heritage and cultural considerations, including songlines, sacred sites and watering holes.
• The layout of the buildings groups individual units, accessible units and family units to ensure privacy and safety.
• The design fosters inclusivity and flexibility to respond to family considerations and enables the accommodation of up to 100 guests.
• The Short Stay will be a welcoming place that is family friendly and drug and alcohol free.
• Guest safety and service is prioritised, providing security and 24-hour concierge, the provision of up to two meals per day, transport (through a shuttle bus), a mixture of room types and other facilities, with a strong focus on outdoor recreation.

The Geraldton Short Stay will:

• Provide Aboriginal people and families with safe, culturally appropriate, and affordable short-term accommodation options.
• Help improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people by enabling family groups to remain together while travelling; as well as facilitating access to essential services and supports, and training and education opportunities.
• Help prevent potential rough sleeping and overcrowding.
• Boost job creation, Aboriginal employment opportunities and economic activity. 

The Geraldton Short Stay was completed in late 2025 and opened to guests in March 2026 as Bundiyarra Regional Aboriginal Community Kinship Stay (BRACKS). 

The Geraldton Short Stay can accommodate Aboriginal people and families from across the Mid-West Gascoyne region and beyond who travel to Geraldton to access services, or are visiting for business, cultural, family or personal reasons.

It is designed to be safe, culturally appropriate and affordable, can connect guests to local services. It is a welcoming place and is drug and alcohol free.

The Short Stays is not:

• crisis accommodation
• transitional housing
• a direct or long-term response to homelessness
• a provider of a medical service
• free accommodation.

Like a hotel, guests must be over the age of 18 or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Geraldton Short Stay can accommodate up to 100 guests across 44 units. The unit configurations include 16 single/double units, 14 family units and 14 universally accessible units.

Consistent with existing regional Short Stays in Broome, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Derby, guests visiting Geraldton can stay for up to 28 days, although the average length of stay is expected to be considerably less (based on the eight-night average stay of guests at the existing regional Short Stays).

There may be reasons for guests to stay longer and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the operator.

Guests need to book their accommodation in advance and pay a nightly rate for the duration of their stay, just as they would in a hotel.

The Department undertook a Restricted Request for Tender process to appoint an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation or Registered Aboriginal Business to manage and operate the Geraldton Short Stay. 

In October 2025, Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation was announced as the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation to operate the Geraldton Short Stay service which opened to guests in March 2026 as Bundiyarra Regional Aboriginal Community Kinship Stay.

Geraldton Short Stay operates like a hotel – guests pay to stay and can access a range of facilities and services on site including outdoor recreation areas and children’s play equipment to encourage families to stay.

Guests pay a nightly or discounted weekly rate which offers two full meals (breakfast and dinner), fresh sheets and towels, room cleaning and access to local services through an on-site 24-hour front desk support service.

Booking rates are determined by the Department and Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation. Visit the Bundiyarra Regional Aboriginal Community Kinship Stay website for more information.