Creating Safer,
Stronger Communities for
Over 50 Years

Founding the Vision

Yumba-Meta Housing Association Ltd is established as Queensland’s first Indigenous community-controlled housing provider, starting with just two staff members.

First Homes Purchased

YMHAL purchased its first 8 homes.

Steady Growth

Housing stock increased to 33 homes.

Queensland Department of Housing funded YMHAL to construct 5x1 bedroom senior units at 75 Chandler Street Garbutt.

Housing stock increased to 45 homes.

Queensland Department of Housing funded YMHAL to complete a Management Manual (Policies and Procedures) through the Best Practice Program.

YMHAL purchased 6 acres of land at Innes Estate.

YMHAL head office moved into newly constructed premises on 565 Ross River Road Kirwan, officially opened by Dr Ernest Hoolihan in July 2003.

YMHAL became the first Indigenous Community Housing Provider in Australia to achieve full accreditation through the National Community Housing Standards and Accreditation Council.

YMHAL entered into a formal partnership with Australian Red Cross to jointly manage the Homeless Early Intervention Program funded by the Queensland State Government.

Queensland Department of Communities funded YMHAL to manage the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP).

YMHAL awarded management of the Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre in July 2008 and the Flora House women’s shelter in December 2008.

YMHAL purchased 26 acres of land at Thorn Street Mount Louisa to facilitate pathways for Indigenous home ownership.

YMHAL funded through the Commonwealth Government Nation Building Economic Stimulus Capital Grants Program to construct 7 homes.

YMHAL was awarded 62 tenancies to be managed through the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Tenancy Management program.

Queensland Department of Communities funded the Breaking the Cycle program in December 2010 to operate from the Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre to support up to 10 clients at any given time.

Queensland Department of Housing funded YMHAL to manage the Dale Parker Place supported housing program to manage 20 males and 5 females in 2 locations.

Queensland Department of Communities expanded the diversionary centre to increase bed capacity from 30 beds to 50 beds.

The Queensland Department of Housing funded YMHAL to complete construction of 16x 2-bedroom detached homes at Innes Estate. The project was named Ernest and Maud Hoolihan Village and officially opened in August 2013 by Tim Mander Minister for Housing.

The Queensland Department of Housing funded YMHAL to manage 8 properties through the Employment Related Accommodation Program (ERAP).

YMHAL received 5 more properties under the Employment Related Accommodation Program (ERAP) taking the total number of properties under this program to 13.

YMHAL successfully gained Tier 2 Registration with the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH).

YMHAL received Development Approval from the Townsville City Council for the Hillside Gardens residential estate project at Thorn Street, Mount Louisa.

Hillside Gardens project completed with land being sold in the open market.

1145 Riverway Drive Rasmussen purchased for future development.

Company name change – Yumba-Meta Housing Association Ltd (YMHAL) was changed to Yumba-Meta Ltd (YML) to reflect the current business model.

YML purchased 25 Acheron Avenue Cranbrook to operate programs.

YML became a registered Specialist Disability Accommodation Provider (SDA) with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The Queensland Department of Housing funded YML through a competitive tender process for the management of the newly constructed Dale Parker Place facility with 40x 1 bedroom studio units.

1145 Riverway Drive Rasmussen granted Development approval by the Townsville City Council.

YML successfully obtained funding through the Building Better Regions Commonwealth Grant towards construction of the Patient Transition Accommodation on 1145 Riverway Drive Rasmussen.

The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General funded the Townsville Family Violence Support Service, increasing YML’s position in the Townsville Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Sector as a specialist DFV service provider.

YML officially opened Townsville’s first registered specialist disability accommodation in November 2019.

Construction of the Patient Transition Accommodation commenced in May 2020.

1151 Riverway Drive Rasmussen purchased for future development.

Hillside Gardens Estate sold out in February 2021.

1155 Riverway Drive Rasmussen purchased for future development and the current dwelling transformed into YML’s second women’s shelter.

Elsie House was officially opened by Mrs. Elsie May Thompson in August 2021.

The National Indigenous Australian Agency provided operational funding for Elsie House Women’s Shelter.

The Queensland Department of Housing funded YML for the construction of 4 duplexes (8 dwellings) through the Partnering for Growth 1 Program.
202 Ross River Road Aitkenvale purchased for development as YML’s headquarters.

The Queensland Department of Housing funded YML for the construction of 4 more duplexes (8 dwellings) through the Partnering for Growth 2 Program. 16 new dwellings through the program.

Karingal Patient Transition Accommodation facility was officially opened by Phillip Thompson OAM, Federal Member for Herbert on 28th July 2021.

Completed construction of the multi-gen home at Hillside Gardens, Mount Louisa.

Completed construction of specialist disability accommodation (shared) at Hillside Gardens, Mount Louisa.

The Riverway Drive, Rasmussen project combining 1145, 1151 and 1155 was granted Development Approval by the Townsville City Council.

Completed construction of the third specialist disability accommodation at Hillside Gardens, Mount Louisa.

Housingwise Realty, not-for-profit real estate established as a subsidiary of Yumba-Meta Limited.

The Queensland Department of Child Safety funded YML to manage 10 young people through the Residential Care Program for Young People.

The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General funded the First Nations Cultural Advisor program to the Townsville High Risk Team (HRT).

YML head office at 202 Ross River Road, Aitkenvale was officially opened on 30th September 2022 by Dr Ernest Hoolihan OAM, founding member and chairperson of YML.

The Queensland Department of Housing funded YML for the construction of 24 one-bedroom homes and 2 duplexes (28 dwellings) through the QuickStart’s 1 program.

YML celebrated 50 years of service to the community with a gala dinner held on 9th June 2023.

Completed construction of the fourth specialist disability accommodation at Hillside Gardens, Mount Louisa.

CEO Dushy Thangiah awarded Medal of the Order of Australia.

The Queensland Department of Housing and the Queensland Department of Health jointly provided operational funding to the Karingal Patient Transition Accommodation program. The facility officially opened for intake on 6th November 2023.

Civil works commenced at 1145 Riverway Drive, Rasmussen in November 2023.

YML successfully obtained funding through the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Commonwealth Grant towards construction of 5 duplexes and an office building to safely accommodate women and their children escaping violence.