Visitors to Maryborough’s Central Goldfields Art Gallery will now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.
Martha Haylett MP today represented Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos to officially open the garingilang gatjin wii garden – which means “garden of water and fire” in the Dja Dja Wurrung language.
The garden was made possible thanks to a $225,000 grant from the Allan Labor Government and is being delivered by local Dja Dja Wurrung enterprise DJANDAK, in partnership with Central Goldfields Shire Council.
Designed collaboratively with Dja Dja Wurrung Elders and local artists, the garden is a place for Dja Dja Wurrung culture to be recognised and shared with the community, encouraging greater respect and reconciliation.
The project has created three local jobs during construction, including a landscape architect and a local artist.
Located next to the recently restored historic art gallery, on the site of a former heritage fire station built in 1861, the garden tells stories with themes of water and fire. There is both a Western view of fire represented through the heritage fire tower and a traditional cultural view of fire represented through elements in the garden.
The project follows the $2 million Central Goldfields Art Gallery Revitalisation project, which received $500,000 through the 2019-20 Regional Infrastructure Fund, $1.2 million from the Regional Tourism Investment Fund and $355,000 from the Regional Collections Access Program.
The refurbished art gallery and new Indigenous garden will build on the success of the gallery in the region’s arts and culture scene, making Maryborough a must-stop destination for visitors.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
“This garden is a fantastic opportunity to share the story of the Dja Dja Wurrung people with Goldfields locals and people visiting the town.”
“We are very proud to support a project like this, which aligns with our Experience Victoria 2033 strategy by promoting First Peoples led experiences and creating lasting economic benefits to the area by attracting more visitors.”
Quote attributable to Member for Ripon Martha Haylett
"By creating this beautiful and culturally significant space, we are not only celebrating the rich traditions of the Dja Dja Wurrung people but also strengthening the ties that bind our community together."
Quote attributable to Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Rodney Carter
“Through this collaboration, Dja Dja Wurrung People are sharing culture with the broader community. Practising Culture is healing for Dja Dja Wurrung People and creating this space will help the healing of ‘upside-down Country’.”
