Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park reopening relying on decision from yet-to-be-hired CEO
A valued Aboriginal cultural centre in Smithfield has shown glimpses of progress in returning to its former glory days but a full reopening is still hanging in the balance.
Cairns
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Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park’s doors have creaked open to host large corporate and community events but a full return to its glory days, when thousands of tourists would marvel at its cultural exhibits, is uncertain and rests upon a key vacancy being filled.
Djabugay Aboriginal Corporation purchased the iconic Smithfield tourist attraction in 2021 after it permanently closed following a history of financial problems.
In September 2021, the corporation’s Chairman, William Biri Duffin, announced his desire to reopen a new-look Tjapukai within “six to 12 months”.
Dennis Hunter, Djabugay’s cultural development officer, said reopening the park was a priority for the organisation, but there were more pressing matters.
“Our CEO position is still open (and) getting a new CEO is the priority.
“Once they’re on board, the organisation will reassess our goal to reopen (Tjapukai),” Mr Hunter said.
“We’re willing to open the doors up as soon as possible … that’s the goal.
“The space is available for corporations to book for their events.”
Cape York Land Council hosted several Native Title determination ceremonies at the facility in 2022.
The organisation’s chairman Richie Ah Mat said “it would be a crying shame” for Tjapukai to not completely reopen to the public.
“In the early days, it was the in place to be … it was fantastic. It was all about showing our culture,” Mr Ah Mat said.
“It’s just sitting there; it would be great news if it did reopen.
“This is about sustainable employment opportunities for our people. Everybody can’t work in a community council because there aren’t enough jobs.”
Mr Ah Mat said the potential reopening of the facility with the coincidental return of more cruise ships to the Far North could prove to be a lucrative and enlightening opportunity.
“Whoever reopens it, they should do a deal with those cruise companies to get all the tourists on buses and bring them out to Tjapukai,” he said.
“That way they could learn all about our culture from our people.
“It’s the ideal facility and we will absolutely be looking to have our Native Title determination events there in the future.”
Before it closed, the cultural park operated for 33 years, first at Kuranda before moving to Smithfield in 1996.
It showcased Indigenous culture to more than three million visitors during this time and consistently achieved more than 65 per cent Indigenous employment.
Cairns mayor Bob Manning said it had a viable tourism appeal, especially to the international market, and he would like to see a company with appropriate capital make a move to fully reopen it.
“Every time I drive past that place I think, ‘there’s certainly some ability in that’,” Cr Manning said.
“It’s certainly something that appeals to international traffic, probably more than domestic traffic, but timing is everything.
“It’s not always easy to take something offline and then bring it back online.
“I’ve not heard anything on the grapevine about its reopening but I’d love to see someone come in there who is capitalised enough to make it operational.”
Cr Manning snuffed the idea of government at any level providing funding support to reopen the venue.
“Governments are in the same position as others … I don’t think that would happen in the current climate,” he said.
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Originally published as Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park reopening relying on decision from yet-to-be-hired CEO
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