Former PM Kevin Rudd and WA MP Patrick Gorman suggest Indigenous museum for Perth, similar to the one planned for Adelaide
Perth is pushing for a national Aboriginal art gallery that could mirror the one planned for Lot Fourteen in Adelaide.
SA News
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South Australia’s plan to build the nation’s leading Aboriginal arts centre is facing competition from interstate.
Western Australia is pushing for a national Aboriginal art gallery that could mirror the multimillion-dollar centre proposed for Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen.
The Perth bid has got a big tick of approval from former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who delivered the historic formal apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples.
A dedicated Aboriginal art and culture centre is earmarked as a centrepiece of the Lot Fourteen development at the old hospital site on North Terrace.
It aims to attract international visitors by displaying the state’s comprehensive collection of works.
The Federal Government has committed $85 million to the centre. The State Government would contribute $65 million as part of a city deal signed last year.
But WA federal Labor MP Patrick Gorman, who has now gathered the backing of his former boss, Mr Rudd, believes a city deal could help fund a gallery in Perth.
The Northern Territory Government also has plans for a national Aboriginal art gallery, although that project has stalled.
Premier Steven Marshall said he was not concerned about potential competition.
“The South Australia collection of art and artefacts is undoubtably the best in the country, and we are now going to build an iconic centre to house these wonderful artefacts,” he said.
“The centre will not only do the artefacts justice, but they will bring people into South Australia.
“I think the hunger, the appetite and interest in Aboriginal art and artefacts is growing.
“We have something precious in this country, we have more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal stories and song lines, and we have an obligation to share this with the world.”
Mr Rudd told The West Australian newspaper on Saturday that Perth was an ideal location for a new national Indigenous and cultural museum, saying the monument would not just be a project of national significance, but an international drawcard.
“Western Australia has an extraordinary Indigenous history, and perhaps the most ancient Indigenous history in Australia,” he said.
“It (a museum) would provide a landmark national visitors’ destination for not just other Australians, but from people around the world to come, experience, appreciate and admire the richness and depth of Indigenous culture.”
A spokesman for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge said the federal and Western Australian governments were working towards a Perth city deal.
“Details of the deal are yet to be finalised,” he said.