Infrastructure grant secures bright future for Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Callan Morse Published January 31, 2024 at 4.40pm (AWST)

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The Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre will make vital improvements to its infrastructure after receiving a NSW government grant. (Image: Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre)

New South Wales' Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre will continue to offer cultural activities, experiences and art exhibitions after its owner was successful in the NSW government's most recent Infrastructure Grants Program.

Gurehlgam Corporation, which owns and manages the Centre, received $121,500 in funding from the most recent Infrastructure Grants round.

The allocation is set to Make "vital improvements" to Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which his located at Corindi Beach, north of Woolgoolga, and is home of the well known Wadjar Regional Indigenous Gallery.

Gurehlgam CEO Julie Perkins thanked the NSW government for their continued support.

"The upgraded infrastructure will assist us greatly with the increasing tourist numbers visiting the Centre," Ms Perkins said.

"We invite all to visit our unique cultural and artistic centre at Corindi, supporting the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

Pictured at the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre are Wadjar Regional Indigenous Gallery creative director, Alison Williams, Nationals Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh and Gurehlgam representative, Andrew Hegedu. (Image: National Party of Australia)

Established in 1987 by Gumbaynggirr Elders, Yarrawarra, meaning "happy meeting place", is an Aboriginal cultural, conference and accommodation centre which offers a variety of cultural activities including bush tucker tours, Gumbaynggirr language and dance workshops and traditional art and craft sessions.

The Centre is also home to the Wadjar Regional Indigenous Gallery, a cultural hub for First Nations peoples and artists from the region and Jalumbo, a cultural and heritage collection representing more than 4,000 years of Aboriginal life on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said he was extremely pleased Gurehlgam had secured funding to install two septic stations and amenities at the cultural centre.

"Yarrawarra is an important cultural and community hub where the hardworking team is extremely proud of the Aboriginal-led art space and gallery and the opportunities to participate in cultural tours," Mr Singh said.

"This funding is terrific news because it helps Gurehlgam to realise its vision for continual upgrades at Yarrawarra, including the provision of essential infrastructure.

"This is an important investment in the future of the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the great work it undertakes in our community."

The grant received by Gurehlgam Corporation was made under the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund, which reinvests a contribution from the State's registered clubs gaming machine profits back into community projects.