Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre

Project Status

In progress

Project Type

Infrastructure & Buildings

Timeline

Start: Mid 2025 Finish: Late 2027

The Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre will be located near the corner of Gwilliam Drive and Progress Drive, Bibra Lake. Its design is inspired by the area’s native Southwestern snake-necked turtle, making it a unique attraction in metropolitan Perth. It will also provide employment and small business opportunities for Aboriginal people through the creation of dedicated Aboriginal positions which recognise the need to have particular activities delivered by Aboriginal people.

In 2021 detailed designs for the new centre were developed in ongoing consultation with the Aboriginal community. The City has worked closely with our Aboriginal Reference Group (ARG) and the architect to make design changes that will provide cultural and environmental benefits. The reworked design was endorsed by Council on 9 December 2021.

What will I see at the Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre?  

The Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre will be a place of recognition and learning about Nyungar culture, language, music, art and dance. Activities and spaces will include:

Spaces
  • A culturally safe and secure meeting place for Aboriginal people
    • to facilitate connection with language, culture and identity
    • for community reconciliation events and programs
  • Provide a 'keeping place' for recovering, conserving, documenting and presenting elements of unique Nyungar culture
  • Art gallery and exhibition space
    • artist in residence creative space and space for sale of locally sourced Aboriginal art and craft
  • Visitors Information Centre, retail shop and cafe.
Workshops, training, events
  • ​Aboriginal educational programs that fit the school curriculum
  • Art, music and dance performances and workshops
  • Aboriginal Cultural Awareness training
  • Nyungar Language classes and cooking classes
  • Bush story cultural trails – guided cultural tours including bush tucker / bush medicine walks
  • Tool making, food gathering and spear or boomerang throwing workshops.

Background

The City has been working on ways to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This includes the adoption of the City of Cockburn Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP identifies the development of an Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre as a key priority for the City. It couples the need for a visitors centre to service the area, with a way to connect to Aboriginal culture.

A feasibility study was first undertaken in 2012 and made recommendations regarding the preferred operational and management model, location, capital works cost of the facility and operational budget of the facility.

Hear from our Nyungar community on why this Centre will be more than a building, how it will be a living space, a safe haven, and a bridge between the past and the future. It will be where Nyungar people can learn the traditions of their ancestors and where visitors can experience the beauty and depth of the oldest living culture on Earth. 


View the Media Release

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s happening now?Has there been a delay in the project’s progress?Why this location?Why not locate it near the Wetlands Centre in Hope Road?What did the feasibility study find?What consultation has taken place so far?What is the estimated amount of land needed for the Centre?What has been done to minimise the clearing of native vegetation?

Contact

Address

City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodjar
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

PO Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

Office opening hours:
8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Language Support

Fire Danger Rating

Social Media

Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaditj boodjar kep wer kaadidjiny kalyakool yoodaniny, wer koora wer yeyi ngalak Birdiya koota-djinanginy.

The City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar Boodjar. Long ago, now and in the future they care for Country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to Land, Waters and Culture and pay our respects to Elders, past and present.