Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre
For anyone who desires to learn more about Aboriginal culture in Australia, it would be worthwhile to visit Melbourne's first Aboriginal cultural centre. Mr. Jim Berg, who worked over 19 years to create this historic project, said about the $7+1/2 million Heritage Trust Cultural Centre in King Street: "If you want to learn anything about Koorie history in Victoria, this is the place to come."
This centre houses a permanent history exhibition, two temporary exhibition spaces, a research library, oral history centre and an Aboriginal languages centre. For art enthusiasts, the venue displays 600 paintings, over 10,000 artefacts, including woven eel traps, spears and shields. Details of who cretaed them and the circumstances are also available to you.
If you're an avid reader, you may choose to devour some of the over 6000 books, videos and documents, and 50,000 photos on-site. How materials were collected is quite a story. Mr. Berg was also instrumental in bringing in new legislation which led to academic institutions and museums returning many aboriginal skeletal remains for re-burial.
Don't forget to stop by the Koorie Heritage trust Cultural Centre shop. Varied indigenous crafts and artworks make great gifts or commemorative keepsakes. Ask about details concerning annual Aboriginal festivals. Artists and craftspeople may be present to talk of their experiences. Even talented Aboriginal musicians periodically perform.
In case you're unaware, Koories have a dynamic culture through expressive art, customs, languages and traditions which begin to characterize south eastern Australian Aboriginals. Additional Aboriginal tribal exhibits take place at other local venues. Enjoy your quest! Visit daily from 10-4pm. Gold coin donation or pay for a guided Cultural Centre tour on-site.
