Lovedale: Disagreement of cultural significance over proposed Madoo Museum and cultural hub

It’s been a vision for the last decade. An indigenous museum and cultural hub in the Hunter Valley promoting history and art. But some indigenous groups argue it’s not “culturally appropriate”.

A controversial Indigenous development in the Hunter Valley has put different Aboriginal clans at loggerheads about its “cultural significance” and whether taxpayer money should be allocated to it.

The Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation (WNAC) will receive a grant of almost $6.3 million from the NSW Government to build the Madoo Museum and cultural hub at Lovedale celebrating Aboriginal art, history and culture, if the development is approved.

It’s set to be built on land provided by hotel entrepreneur Dr Jerry Schwartz at Wills Hills Rd, near Cessnock, to showcase a rich collection of local indigenous artefacts.

The museum — which has been a vision for the last decade — is named after Wonnarua ancestor and trailblazer Sarah Madoo, a resident of the St Clair mission owned by Wonnarua people.

“It goes way back to 1847, there are a lot of people who are descendants from her and the footprints that she left, and the strong women of the past who have walked in her footsteps,” senior Wonnarua elder and historian James Wilson-Miller said.

“It’s an honour for us to even put her name up.”

Laurie Perry, Chief Executive Officer of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation. Picture: Supplied.

As his great great grandmother, CEO of WNAC Laurie Perry said it will bring to life what their families and descendants have gone through and create a legacy.

In addition, there’s hopes the ‘Morrison Collection’ - currently housed at the Australian Museum - will be returned to the Hunter Valley on loan.

“It was a collection that has relevance to the budget newspaper and also to our descendants who lived on St Clair mission which is a property we own in the Singleton area, and we’re developing that property now,” Mr Perry said.

“It has 124 objects and we’re working to see what we can get out of there.”

The Australian Museum have yet to indicate whether the collection could be relocated to the museum if approved.

But there have been questions raised about the proposed project.

Scott Franks from the Plains Clans Wonnarua People (PCWP) said the development was taking place on privately owned land.

“The funding for six million was under the tourism grant on behalf of WNAC, but ... the actual DA before Cessnock Council is made on behalf of Wonnarau Nation Parks Pty Ltd,” Mr Franks commented.

Mr Franks said he thought Wonnarua Nation Parks was WNAC, but according to Mr Franks “it’s a privately owned entity under a trust owned by Jerry Schwartz, a private non-Aboriginal company.”

Native title claimant for the Guringai people Bob Syron said the ‘Morrison Collection’ was not just collected from one tribe, and is not culturally appropriate.

“They have applied for this collection without consulting with the Aboriginal community and registered Aboriginal traditional owners,” Mr Syron said.

“If it does go ahead and Indigenous people are ignored, then it’s culturally inappropriate to call it the Madoo museum because it’s not Wonnarua country and it’s not her collection.

“It should be called the Hunter Valley Port Stephens Indigenous collection museum, to label it as one owner and to hand it over to one family member it’s beyond disbelief.

“Who gets commission from people using the museum, why hasn’t it been shared equally with traditional owners?”

He’s also raised the question as to whether the new museum would have facilities like the Australian Museum to house the artefacts.

“Will it have security, heating, cooling, will it be locked away out of hands way because if people are touching them, it destroys the artefacts,” he said.

But the concerns raised have been absolutely rubbished by elder Mr Wilson-Miller, who angrily disputed the claims, and said it’s a fantastic repository for Aboriginal lifestyle within the Hunter Valley, which has never been done before.

“It is culturally appropriate going back in the history,” he said.

“We are putting in the work, we’ve done the homework. Wonnarua Corporation are the ones who have done the negotiation and met with people, yet we get other people who have done nothing in any way, shape or form popping up saying things like they haven’t been consulted.

“From a historical standpoint, there’s a need to have a development like this in the Hunter Valley. It’s in an area where Aboriginal tourism is starting to take hold. We have the opportunity to show it.

Artist impression of the museum. Credit: Group Architects.

“We’re at the cutting edge of trying to bring our history to people and yet it’s been knocked by certain groups, stopping the real progress that is going on.”

Mr Perry added that the development received good and bad feedback, but the WNAC wanted to work through that with those who opposed, with hope the project would be approved early next year.

“Jerry Schwartz owns all the land but the land where the museum is going is under a deed with agreement with us and Jerry. We own that land, it was granted to us,” he said.

“A few people complained about it, so hopefully we can talk to them and sort it all out.

“We hope to hear something by February. Building will take 12 months and will create a lot of construction and operational jobs.”

The Newcastle News also contacted Dr Schwartz regarding the development, who confirmed the Madoo Museum would be built on land owned by the Schwartz family, but said the application and delivery of the grant was to the WNAC.

“One of the conditions is that Schwartz Family Company would subdivide about 10 acres of this land and donate it to the Wonnarua Aboriginal Corporation,” Dr Schwartz said.

He said plans have also been pushed back, with the Schwartz family giving a longer lease over the land.

“We have been ready for about 12 months to commence the work, but Cessnock Council have not yet finalised the consent,” he said.

“It is believed that they will place a condition on surfacing Wills Hill Road, which itself may cost about $1 million dollars.

“If this is the case, then there won’t be enough money to complete the museum. The only logical conclusion is that Council surface the road.”

The development was recently on public exhibition. Any submissions will now be considered by Cessnock Council before a decision is made.