Wadawurrung culture part of Sovereign Hill storytelling

A NEW offering at Sovereign Hill is serving to highlight the region’s Indigenous culture through the work of local First Nations artists.

The living museum’s new Indigenous outdoor gallery as part of the site’s Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct was launched on Monday morning.

Located around the site’s western pond, the installation features seven sculptures from five Wadawurrung female creatives.

Elder, Aunty Marlene Gilson, is one of the featured artists with her daughters Tammy and Deanne, as well as Kait James and Lynette Fagan.

From an eel trap piece showcasing traditional Indigenous weaving technique to bronze work depicting Porronggitj, the project is aimed at highlighting Wadawurrung culture and history, Marlene said the gallery is about passing on local Aboriginal culture to visitors.

“It’s a good thing Sovereign Hill, the community, and now the world will recognise and know what we’re all about,” she said. “It gives you a little bit of an insight into our way of life and how we lived.

“My featured acrylic work has the eagle and crow, our totems, and has a few flags to represent the different nations which came to the goldrush.

“If you look at it, you’ll probably pick up a few of the stories like the making of the baskets and selling them, doing things to survive on the goldfields.”

The project has been two years in the making and was developed in consultation with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation as part of Sovereign Hill’s 20-year masterplan.

The living museum’s CEO, Sara Quon, said the cultural precinct will be a permanent fixture rife for expansion.

“We definitely are reputed to have ambitions in terms of where we take Sovereign Hill into the future,” she said. “This precinct is such a special part.

“Phase one is complete with all these beautiful works we’ve installed. The next phase… [there’ll be] a native garden in around the existing sculptures.

“Over time, we’re wanting to add additional sculpture, working with more Wadawurrung artists. We see this as a long-term journey.”

The cultural precinct has been supported with $6 million through the State Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.

Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle, launched the space on behalf of Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos.

“It means so much to us to have the Wadawurrung acknowledged here at Sovereign Hill,” she said.

“Sovereign Hill has led the way in educating people across Australia about our past. It’s incredibly important the past acknowledges the Wadawurrung and their incredibly important role they have played here.”