REPRESENTATIVES from three Local Aboriginal Lands Councils (LALCs) – Nambucca Heads, Bowraville and Unkya – turned the first sod at the site of the Gumbaynggirr Keeping Place in Macksville on Monday, 27 October.
Based at 43 Princess Street, Macksville, the Keeping Place will provide an Aboriginal cultural facility for the local community, offering an opportunity to share Gumbaynggirr knowledge, stories and artefacts.
Nambucca Valley Mayor Gary Lee said he was honoured to support the LALCs to deliver this significant place-making project.
“Watching [the first] sod being turned at the 43 Princess Street site yesterday was extremely rewarding as our Council has worked with our LALCs since 2022 on this project,” he said.
“Council has donated the land for this project, once it received almost $5 million in grant funding from the State Government, as this project will promote Gumbaynggirr culture and be a tourism drawcard for decades to come.”
Unkya LALC Chairperson Michael Donovan said the sod turning was a very important moment for the Gumbaynggirr people.
“We are starting to build the Gumbaynggirr Keeping Place, a very special occasion,” he said.
“In this centre we will be able to protect and maintain our cultural heritage, through our artefacts, our dreaming stories, music, dance and art.
“The place will be very significant for us because learning and teaching is a big part of Gumbaynggirr culture.
“We want to be able to educate our younger Gumbaynggirr people, but also to educate the wider community and make that available to other people so they can understand the enrichment that Gumbaynggirr culture gives to us as Gumbaynggirr people.”
The Keeping Place is being built by O’Donnell & Hanlon and the new facility is expected to be completed in 2026, weather depending.
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