LANGO SET TO OPEN NEXT MONTH

The venue, designed by MGS Architects with landscaping by Simone Bliss Landscape Architects, will be a community-led space for live music, community events, creatively ambitious performances, markets and cultural ceremonies. 

Julia White, Chair of Footscray Community Arts, says it’s about continuity as much as creation, explaining that the “revitalised outdoor performance space” will ensure the venue remains  “the home of live music, storytelling, and cultural practice in the west for the next 50 years”.

In Woi-Wurrung, Langomeans “on the edge”, a powerful reference to both the space’s location on the banks of the Maribyrnong River in Footscray, and to the spirit of innovation that defines Melbourne’s western suburbs. The word “Lango” has been gifted by Wurundjeri Elder and Footscray Community Arts’ Indigenous Advisory Group member, Aunty Annette Xiberras.

Realised through an $8.7m State Government investment, the precinct is a significant infrastructure upgrade for the west. This landmark investment highlights the vibrant culture that has been growing with the support of Footscray Community Arts.

The Lango Stage replaces the old bluestone amphitheatre with an overlapping shell structure that’s as sculptural as it is functional. Each shell features patterns by First Nations artist Moorina Bonini that draw from South Eastern Kulin Nations mark-making representing Ancestors watching over performers. This connection mirrors historical practices, where ceremonies were once held under the stars, aligning with the locality of Place. 

"The design is subtle yet strong, embodying the presence and significance of Sky Country and the Ancestors, deeply rooted in Aboriginal storytelling,” Bonini says.

The precinct’s design also reimagines the landscape. A gently sloping, fully accessible pathway called One Path For All leads visitors from the galleries to the river, lined with salvaged bluestone from the old amphitheatre. The surrounding landscape is a carefully re-indigenised tapestry of native grasses, trees and rain gardens.

A custom-designed fire bowl by Moorina Bonini, created in collaboration with neighbouring blacksmith forge Waterside Metal Art, provides a dedicated space for First Nations storytelling and smoking ceremonies, embedding cultural practice at the heart of the precinct.

"The Lango Stage is a powerful expression of our commitment to a First Nations-first approach, guided by the leadership of Footscray Community Arts’ longstanding Indigenous Advisory Group throughout the design process,” says Daniel Santageli, CEO Artistic Director.

“We’re proud to be embedding cultural knowledge and connection to Country into the heart of this space, most notably through commissioned artworks by artist Moorina Bonini and by re-indigenising the landscape with SBLA’s designs.”