General News
10 January, 2025
BEST OF 2024: Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre in Dubbo locked in thanks to $7 million in funding
Dubbo will finally get its Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre!
First published June 2, 2024.
Dubbo will finally get its Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre, with the Australian Government providing more than $7 million for the project.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has welcomed this funding which was announced recently under Round One of the Growing Regions Program.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to see that Dubbo Regional Council has been awarded $7,190,505 for the development of the Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre and Keeping Place,” Mr Coulton said.
“The centre will include a museum exhibition space, an Aboriginal commercial art gallery, a Yarning Circle, a Keeping Place, and a café, providing locals and visitors with the opportunity to reflect and engage with the Wiradjuri culture.
“Dubbo has a rich Aboriginal heritage and the Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre will provide a safe place for the community to celebrate this culture through storytelling and art for generations to come.”
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson expressed his excitement at receiving this funding.
“This is Dubbo’s largest single capital project since the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (DRTCC) was completed in 2010,” he said.
“In the case of the theatre, ratepayers funded the project via a rate rise. The Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre is a $15 million facility, but only $2.2 million will be provided by ratepayers, with the Australian Government providing $7.2 million and $5.6 million from the State Government,” Clr Dickerson said.
"We're thrilled to fully realise this community project after Council unanimously resolved in December 2023 to go ahead with the project if the grant was successful. The Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre will be an inclusive space to celebrate and share traditional and contemporary Wiradjuri culture on Country.
“The Centre is expected to generate a $90 million economic benefit and create up to 160 job opportunities within its first three years. It will also boost national and international tourism, offering cultural experiences to the 1.3 million annual visitors to the Dubbo Region,” Clr Dickerson said.
Dubbo Regional Council is one of five recipients of Round 1 of the Growing Regions Program from the Parkes electorate. The other successful applicants include Brewarrina Shire Council - $10,069,524 for the Brewarrina PCYC – Youth Hub and Indoor Sports Centre, Moree Plains Shire Council - $9,641,761 for the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation (Gunnedah) - $2,181,534 for a Community Cultural Hub Project, Narrabri Shire Council - $1,483,112 for Narrabri Shire Tourism and Cultural Precinct – Stages Two and Three and Walhallow Community Infrastructure Project, Caroona (WCIP) – ($1.5 million – Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council, 32km west of Quirindi.
The Growing Regions Program provides funding to local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations for capital works projects that deliver community and economic infrastructure projects across regional and rural Australia.
Stephen Lawrence, NSW Labor Government Duty MLC for Dubbo, has welcomed the announcement yesterday of significant federal funding for the construction of the Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre and Keeping Place in Dubbo.
“This is a project I have been fighting for over many years,” Mr Lawrence said.
“A cultural centre in Dubbo was a key issue when the then new Dubbo Regional Council was elected in 2017.
“Myself, then Councillor John Ryan and others strongly advocated for it before and after the 2017 Local Government elections. I even took the issue to the 2015 NSW Labor State Conference.
“The cultural, economic and social benefits of showcasing Aboriginal culture in western NSW are limitless and that is why I have been advocating for so long on this issue.
“The staff of Dubbo Regional Council did a wonderful job of securing funding from the previous state government and now this federal funding will make the project possible.
“It is wonderful to see the Albanese Labor Government so committed to western NSW.”
