Queensland Museum & Community Collections

It’s Reconciliation Week, and what better way for me to acknowledge this by sharing some stories and images from communities that showcase First Nations history from the Gulf Region in northwest Queensland.

First off, let’s visit Georgetown, where the new Unearth Etheridge interpretation displays at the TerrEstrial Centre allow visitors to explore the region’s diverse cultural and natural history. A 3D interactive relief map tells three landscape stories – origins, exploration and expansion. Ewamian culture is acknowledged and featured throughout the displays, including the Corporation’s work at Talaroo Station where rangers have been documenting cultural sites and sharing culture with locals and tourist. A video about the way Elders and community contribute to reconciliation and shared understanding features in their theatrette, and entices visitors to visit the hot springs and find out more.

Further along the road in Croydon, the True Blue Visitor Information Centre has featured display boards about Tagalaka culture and families for a number of years.

Heading on to Normanton, the thrill of seeing the Burns Philp building again, Normanton Visitor Information Centre (which is considerable as you may know from previous blogs it’s my favourite heritage building in north Queensland) was surpassed by my delight at seeing the new displays inside.

Visitors to the Centre can now explore three displays that showcase Indigenous stockmen, Aboriginal women station workers and a display called Indigenous Rodeo Riders. There are a few things that are great about this. Firstly, it’s great to walk into a centre and see content that brings Indigenous stories into focus in a space that previously had very few. It’s also great to see the design has respected the need for cultural sensitivities. Individual story panels are magnetised so that they can be removed and if protocols require, they are taken down.

The displays truthfully explore some of the hardships Aboriginal stockmen and station workers have experienced over the years. Gkuthaarn and Kukatj man and former Centre Manager, Jason Callope, and I used to chat about the stories he wanted to develop a number of years ago. The changes Jason’s vision, and years of dedicated consultation, has bought about is fantastic.

Our final destination is Burketown. Here the Burketown Visitor Centre in the old Post Office Building still houses material culture that showcases Gangialida and Garawa culture. Contemporary paintings, traditional artefacts and interpretative panels that highlight the high court Crocodile Case showcase the continuing culture associated with this region. Ewen and I were fortunate enough to help develop the display a few years ago, and it’s great to see it’s still going strong (with some improvements) after two years of heavy wet season rains.

It’s been inspiring to see new and inclusive displays exploring diverse stories and histories. Can’t resist signing off with a few gorgeous sunset pics from the far northwest.