The Office of Township Leasing
How might we align cultural and corporate identity with purpose, values, and responsibilities to Traditional Owners — demonstrating OTL's ability to walk alongside Indigenous communities in a way that is respectful, clear, and enduring?
A transformation program immersed in communities across the Northern Territory and the Tiwi Islands
Community listening ensured we placed Indigenous voices first and central to OTL's cultural and corporate identity.
Our teams were situated in communities allowing us to understand and demonstrate the depth of OTL's cultural integrity.
Our relational approach was, and is, always built on deep respect, trust, and long-term partnership.
The Office of Township Leasing (OTL) engaged Tank in a multi-year partnership, at a pivotal moment in its evolution.
As a Commonwealth agency tasked with managing township leases on Aboriginal land, OTL sought to clarify and realign its identity to meet its regulatory and operational obligations, but more importantly, to ensure its role was clearly understood by the Aboriginal communities it serves. There was a pressing need to how OTL walked closely alongside Traditional Owners, with clarity of purpose and cultural integrity to deliver their vision, so that the culture of the organisation could be sustained beyond current personnel.
Our work began with deep listening. Our team travelled to the Tiwi Islands and Wadeye to sit with community members, Traditional Owners, board representatives, and stakeholders in place — learning firsthand about the experiences, aspirations, and expectations of those most affected by township leasing.
Our approach to engagement, consultation and research was one that saw us forego traditional tools, and allow the community to lead each conversation.
Through this, we encountered the complexity of OTL’s remit, but also the deep cultural considerations that must underpin how the agency presents itself and engages with community.
With care and in partnership, we co-designed an evolved purpose, vision, values, brand strategy and Cultural Integrity Charter — ensuring that the foundation of OTL’s identity reflected its genuine commitment to partnership with Aboriginal landowners.
We worked closely with OTL’s internal team, senior leadership, and Indigenous partners to shape a brand strategy grounded in respect, responsibility, and transparency. These guiding principles informed the creative direction of the new visual identity system, designed to feel confident, contemporary, and deeply rooted in place; the ribbons that were central to OTL's visual identity were a gift from a Tiwi artist. Today they hang framed in OTL's Darwin office.
We also designed a new website to house OTL’s information, services, and stories — ensuring clarity for community members, potential partners, and institutions alike. The site architecture, language and visuals were all created to reflect OTL’s values and to demystify a complex regulatory framework in a culturally appropriate and accessible way.
At every stage, the process was inclusive and consultative, with Traditional Owner voices placed at the centre. From visual cues to messaging tone, from policy documents to templates, our work was shaped by one principle: to ensure that OTL is not simply an agency that operates on Aboriginal land, but one that stands alongside the people who own the land and places them at the centre of decision-making for that land.
Our work
Community research
Communications strategy
Brand architecture
Brand strategy
Literature reviews
Brand positioning
Brand identity design
Brand styleguide
Photography
Videography
Copywriting
User experience design
User interface design
Annual report
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© Tank Pty Ltd
We are based in Melbourne, Australia, and our work is conducted across our nation and in various cities around the world. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of the nation we live and work in and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.