Through Spotless, Downer is proud to partner with The Australian National University (ANU) and AMP at the new purpose built student accommodation village – Yukeembruk.

The name Yukeembruk (phonetic pronunciation ‘yu-kum-bruuk’) was gifted following consultation with Ngambri/Ngurmal (Walgalu), Wallaballooa (Ngunnawal), Wiradyuri (Erambie) custodian, Paul Girrawah House, and Professor Aunty Anne Martin, Director of the ANU Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre.

Yukeembruk consists of over 700 beds with rooms that have shared bathroom facilities or ensuite rooms and self-catered master chef style kitchens. The four residential buildings are built around a large common amphitheatre, creating a village community with views of Sullivan’s Creek, Black Mountain, and the lake.

Downer will provide asset management and facilities services including management of whole of life maintenance and life cycle of assets for the 731 rooms at Yukeembruk over the next 35 years, taking the number of rooms Downer now manages at ANU to over 5,000.

Yukeembruk was officially opened on Friday, 10 February 2023 by ANU Chancellor The Hon Julie Bishop and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian P. Schmidt after a traditional smoking ceremony by Aunty Matilda House, a proud Ngambri Elder.

Attending the opening ceremony on behalf of Downer were senior leaders from the Facilities & Asset Services business: Executive General Manager Health and Education, Liz Curran; Head of People and Culture, Health & Education, Amanda Towe; General Manager Health & Tertiary, Harley Oaten and ANU Contract Manager Gary MacDonald.

“We are extremely proud of our long-standing relationship with ANU and excited to partner with them, AMP and other valued project partners on such an impressive student accommodation village that the students will no doubt thrive in,” said Liz Curran.