ATE MEDIA INFORMATION | ABORIGINAL CULTURE, ART AND HISTORY

ABORIGINAL CULTURE, ART AND HISTORY

The Aboriginal tourism sector continued to soar during 2014, driven by ongoing industry engagement, investment in cultural events, and delivery by Destination NSW against recommendations in the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan. Aboriginal events and experiences are increasingly attractive for visitors to NSW from interstate and overseas. In the year to September 2014, NSW received about 826,000 domestic overnight visitors and nearly 600,000 international overnight visitors who experienced Aboriginal tourism products and services. A key part of the strategy to grow the sector is to support Aboriginal cultural events that attract visitation, such as Sydney’s Yabun Festival and the Saltwater Freshwater Festival in Coffs Harbour, which is now a Regional Flagship Event.

ABORIGINAL TOURISM IN SYDNEY Sydney offers many opportunities to see contemporary and traditional Aboriginal art and artefacts. At the Art Gallery of NSW, the Yiribana Gallery is one of the largest spaces in Australia dedicated exclusively to indigenous art and sculpture. Rover Thomas, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Long Tom Tjapanangka and Ginger Riley Munduwalawala are among the leading artists represented in the permanent exhibition. With words, images and artefacts, the Australian Museum explores the rich diversity of Aboriginal Australia, showing some of the changes that have occurred and the impact of European society. Dance is a powerful traditional medium of artistic expression for many Aboriginal people and the Bangarra Dance Theatre, based in Sydney, is Australia’s most exciting Aboriginal dance company. Backed by an all-Aboriginal cast of writers, directors and performers, Stephen Page, Bangarra’s choreographer and artistic director, digs deep into his culture to orchestrate powerful performances that explore contemporary Aboriginal social themes. 2015, the company’s 26th year, sees Bangarra delivering an exceptional performance program, headed by the company’s TOP: CEREMONY SPIRIT - KATHY MARIKA, BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE. new double bill, lore, at the Sydney Opera House. MIDDLE: ‘ART AFTER HOURS’ AT THE ART GALLERY OF NSW. BOTTOM: HARRY NANYA TOURS AT MUNGO NATIONAL PARK Every Friday at 10am, an Aboriginal Heritage Tour is held in Booderee Botanic Gardens is Australia’s only Aboriginal-owned Sydney’s spectacular Royal Botanic Gardens. Led by an Aboriginal botanic gardens, covering 80ha of Booderee National Park at guide, the tour introduces visitors to some of the bush foods Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast. Learn about bush tucker, that were part of the diet for the Cadigal people, the original medicinal uses for plants and the long association the Koori inhabitants of this area. people have had with the area. Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with the two-night Ngaran Ngaran - Gulaga Creation The Rocks is where the history of European Australia began more Tour in Narooma, also on the South Coast. Gulaga Mountain and than two centuries ago. The area has a very different significance the Creation Dreaming have held sacred significance for Yuin for Aboriginal Australians, as relayed during The Rocks Dreaming Aboriginal people for thousands of years, yet these stories are not Aboriginal Heritage Tour. Led by an Aboriginal guide, the widely known. 90-minute walking tour offers an intimate, revealing portrait of the area’s original inhabitants, the Cadigal people, their heritage Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk is the newest section of the Wagirra and their deeply spiritual connection with the natural world of Trail near Albury on the northern banks of the Murray River in the Sydney Harbour and its surrounds. state’s south. Sculptures by Aboriginal artists can be found all along the 5km trail. The native Australian animals on display in Taronga Zoo have special significance for the Cammeraygal, the original inhabitants In Outback NSW, Harry Nanya Tours is an Aboriginal-owned of this site. Nura Diya, meaning “this country or camp”, takes operator providing interpretive tours of Mungo National Park visitors on a fascinating journey through the zoo in the company and the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. This is one of the of an Aboriginal guide to explore the links between Aboriginal most remarkable parts of Australia – a wild, lonely moonscape people, their culture and the wildlife. of saltbush and sand dunes with profound significance for the indigenous people of the region. Tri State Safaris/Mutawintji Eco EcoTreasures is a nature-based tour specialist that operates tours Tours of Broken Hill takes small-group tours to the sandstone with Aboriginal guides. The Northern Beaches Cultural Heritage peaks of Mutawintji National Park. A centrepiece of the park is Tour is a walking tour that takes in rock art and engraving sites the Bynguano Range, where waterholes have created a virtual in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Visitors also learn about oasis for the local Aboriginal people, who left many examples of traditional native bush medicines and bush tucker, track native their art inscribed on the rock walls. The finest examples of this animals and find out about some of Australia’s dangerous snakes rock art are found in the Mutawintji Historic Site, a restricted area and spiders on the one-day tour, with plenty of stimulation for that can be visited only on a guided tour. Mutawintji was the first the mind as well as the body. EcoTreasure’s half-day Aboriginal national park in NSW to be returned to Aboriginal custodianship, Heritage Harbour Walk takes in cultural sites including middens bringing further significance to this Aboriginal-guided tour. and rock engravings, artwork and an Aboriginal view of the local ecosystem and native wildlife.

ABORIGINAL TOURISM EXPERIENCES AROUND NSW The multi-award-winning Aboriginal Blue Mountains Walkabout FOR MORE INFORMATION offers the chance to view the world through the eyes of the sydney.com, visitnsw.com traditional owners and to imagine what life was like for the local Darug language group before 1770. Visit sacred sites and SOCIAL MEDIA learn about bush medicines. In nearby Katoomba, Waradah Twitter: @sydney_sider, @NSWtips Aboriginal Centre has a wealth of activities, including traditional Facebook: facebook.com/seesydney, facebook.com/visitnsw dances, didgeridoo performances, lectures and opportunities for Instagram: @sydney, @visitnsw informal chats. PR CONTACT North of Sydney, Aboriginal guides from Ngurra Bu will share their knowledge of culturally significant sites in the Hunter, Allison Lee Wollombi and Broke valleys. At Port Stephens, indigenous guides Director, Media & Public Relations from Sand Dune Adventures lead you on quad bikes across the Destination NSW Worimi Sand Dunes to ancient campsites, revealing the secrets +61 (0) 2 9931 1318 / +61 (0) 437 490 187 of bush tucker and finding fresh water along the way. Near Port [email protected] Macquarie, Aboriginal guides will explain how rainforest plants have traditionally been used for medicine and food at Sea Acres IMAGES Rainforest Centre. Galnyamba Friday Creek, meanwhile, is a To view and order images from the Destination NSW image luxurious hideaway set on 40ha in a tranquil valley 20 minutes library, go to: images.destinationnsw.com.au from Coffs Harbour on the North Coast. To enhance the guest Create an account in order to view and order images required. experience, four Aboriginal cultural programs are offered by the Note: Some images require mandatory credits. local custodial people.