Scott Morrison announced plans to build a new cultural precinct in Canberra’s parliamentary triangle to help establish national Indigenous voices in government.
The new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct will be named “Ngurra” which means “home”, “country” or “place of belonging”.
The $316.5 million facility will act as a national voice to inform parliament on Indigenous policies.
Scott Morrison said: “Ngurra is the realisation of a long-held desire to have a home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories at the heart of our nation,
“It will be a national landmark of the highest order, standing proudly for us all to celebrate, educate, reflect and commemorate.”
The precinct will be built on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin on Ngunnawal country and will include a learning and knowledge centre, a new home for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and a national resting place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains.
“It will be built in Commonwealth Place, on the primary axis in the Parliamentary Triangle – between Old Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial – demonstrating the importance and reverence this institution should hold.” the Prime Minister continued.
Currently, the most significant voice for First Nations peoples in parliament, Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt seemed excited by this step forward.
“At its heart will be a national resting place, where the remains of Indigenous Australians taken from their country will be cared for until they are able to be returned to their communities,” he said.
“And in instances where provenance has been forgotten or erased, they will be cared for in perpetuity with dignity and respect.
“As the new home to AIATSIS, the precinct will also house and make accessible the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and heritage items.
We are pleased to share with you today the announcement made by @ScottMorrisonMP , @KenWyattMP and AIATSIS CEO Craig Ritchie to establish Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct – https://t.co/rGVzBVyLC8#NgurraPrecinct #NationalRestingPlace pic.twitter.com/OmXP2YotCB
— AIATSIS (@AIATSIS) January 5, 2022
“Ngurra will provide a new perspective on our shared history, as a significant moment for truth-telling, and a new place where the diversity of Indigenous Australia and one of the world’s oldest living cultures will be celebrated.”
As for the actual building? An architectural design competition will be run this year to decide what this remarkable new establishment will look like.
