Centre to Bring Culture Alive
Tourism, education and most importantly sharing of culture.
The Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Lands Council hopes to tick all these boxes with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre located at the Muswellbrook Common on Coal Road.
Utilising land that is owned by the LALC in a positive and productive way while also preserving important natural elements, is part of the big picture dream according to Council chairperson, Aunty Jean Hands.
“The dream for the common is that vision of a cultural education centre conference centre and a tourist adventure for everybody,” she shared.
“The common has been sitting there for years and there’s been no activity, no adventurous things happening up there, it’s just destruction that’s happening and hopefully by putting this centre there, the wider community will see what a beautiful place it is.”
Plans drawn up in April of this year include spaces for learning, a corroboree site and amphitheatre for gatherings, exhibition space, cultural food garden, kitchen, café and more.
“I think the students from the high schools down to kindergartens will find that the centre will attract more cultural activities for them,” Aunty Jean said of the important role the centre would take in education, and not just for local students.
Aunty Jean explained that once the initial stage of the development is complete and operational there is further plans to add accommodation to the site.
Aunty Jean, along with LALC CEO De-anne Douglas, met with member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell and minister for Aboriginal affairs, the arts and regional youth Ben Franklin to discuss the proposal.
“They came and sat, looked at our concept of the common and were very interested in what we were doing with the community, and particularly that building,” she said.
“We’ve jumped through a lot of hurdles to get to the stage where we are and now we’re just going to be out there looking for funding to help get make this dream come true for the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook community.”