Located between the Durbar Yerigan River, also known as the Swan River, and the Perth Concert Hall, the Aboriginal Cultural Center will showcase Western Australia’s Indigenous cultures.
Key Point:
- The center will be located between the Perth Concert Hall and the Swan River.
- State and federal governments provided $102 million in seed funding.
- Prime Minister Mark McGowan said he was ‘very excited’ about the location
The location was selected by the Wajuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Department of Cultural Affairs, an organization set up to provide advice on cultural centers and the best possible locations.
Commissioner Barry Wimmer said the center would give Aboriginal people a strong voice and show Aboriginal culture in its best light.
“It gives us the opportunity to tell our stories, tell our songlines and showcase what our culture is like through art, dance, print and media,” said Winmer.
The site was of cultural importance as a place for watering holes and tributaries of the river.
“We had a boardwalk there. We had a strong connection with the water and the land,” Winmer said.
It was also near the burial site of Yelagonga, the Fajuk Noongar leader who died in 1843.
The federal government previously pledged $52 million in seed funding to the project, and the Washington state government $50 million as part of its election promises.
Prime Minister Mark McGowan said the cultural center is expected to be completed by 2028 and will likely include major private sector and philanthropic contributions to create a “world-standard facility”.
“We want visitors from Australia and around the world to come and understand and enjoy the experience,” McGowan said.
“This is a great opportunity to understand and create jobs, and a great sense of identity that comes with it.
“So we are very excited about this place.”
Commonwealth Minister and WA MP Patrick Gorman thought this might be the WA’s answer to the Sydney Opera House.
“This is about giving Western Australia something that broadly represents Aboriginal culture,” Gorman said.
Perth Mayor Basil Zempiras said he was thrilled to have a cultural center set up in the city.
“It’s hard to believe that in 2022, our country will not have an Aboriginal cultural center and museum of this size, shape and status that we now anticipate building,” Zempiras said.
“So we are very excited that the City of Perth will likely be home to this facility. This is very important to our country, our state and especially our city.”
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