Social Enterprise Hub
A ‘Proper Flash’ Space
In 2021, Purple House opened a vibrant Social Enterprise Hub on the east side of Alice Springs, creating a welcoming, tranquil space for community connection, cultural preservation, and social enterprise. This unique hub is home to our long-standing Bush Balm business and the newly established Purple Shed enterprise.
Thanks to the generous support of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, this space has become a reality. Additional funding from the Coles Nurture Grant, as well as contributions from Bonds and Coles, have helped expand and renovate the Purple Shed kitchen and create outdoor activity spaces for our community.
When we first brought patients over to have a look at the site, they walked through the doors and said “Yukai! This is Proper Flash.“
Bush Balm: Traditional Healing from Central Australia
Bush Balm has been operating for over a decade, but the Bush Balm house is the first purpose-built space to accommodate all our bush medicine production and the ongoing growth and success of the enterprise. The products are all made by hand by our team of First Nations staff using wild-harvested plants from Central Australia. You’ll often experience the soothing scent of Irmangka Irmangka or Arrethe wafting around the building while you’re visiting our retail shop where you’ll find Bush Balm products, Purple House merchandise and a selection of gorgeous items from other Indigenous enterprises around Alice Springs. Our products are also available online!
The Purple Shed: Food, Culture & Connection
The Purple Shed launched with the site to provide nutritious renal-friendly hot lunches for Purple House patients at our home base in Gillen.
The Purple Shed is a unique WWII building which has been refurbished to provide a multi-purpose space for patient wellbeing activities, health promotion and education, internal staff training, Director’s meetings, sharing of the Purple House story, and special events.
The inside space is enhanced by the stunning work of Western Desert artists and delicious catering is made on site by our Purple Shed kitchen team. With beautifully renovated buildings full of character and shaded outdoor spaces surrounded by trees and grass, the site is designed to help people connect with each other and share culture. We also have a purpose-built fire pit for cooking ‘roo tails!
The space may be hired by external stakeholders for a variety of professional events, including training sessions, seminars, screenings, exhibitions, and other similar activities. We also offer event catering, prepared onsite in the Shed kitchen. Use of the Purple Shed is prioritised for patients, however external groups are welcome to hire it outside of these bookings.
