Cairns leaders push for First Nations cultural centre to replace Global Tourism Hub

The push for a national First Nations’ heritage centre is back in the spotlight following the declaration that the proposed $1 billion Global Tourism Hub was “dead in the water”.

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THE push for a national First Nations’ heritage centre is back in the spotlight following the declaration that the proposed $1bn Global Tourism Hub on a prime waterfront site is “dead in the water”.

Central Queensland University Associate Professor and Yidinji elder Henrietta Marrie said such a heritage centre that aimed to celebrate indigenous cultures and boost the reconciliation process was a concept traditional landowners had long been pushing for.

“I’ve been arguing since 1987 that we need to repatriate many of our objects taken in the early 1900s,” Ms Marrie said. “Not having a museum in the Far North, let alone to represent the country, doesn’t surprise me.

Respected Indigenous elder Henrietta Marrie of the Yidinji people says a national cultural museum in Cairns would help the reconciliation and healing process. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“It’s all about truth telling. If we’re going to reconcile and move towards understanding, then truth telling would bring about a lot of discussions and bring about healing.”

However, she said it needed to be done properly.

“It has to be guided by people with knowledge and lived experiences,” she said. “We need to be empowered.”

The concept was first identified by Cairns Regional Council in its 2050 shared vision and city deal proposal, of which the latter is a document outlining Cairns’ future that has support from all levels of government.

“While we would welcome support for a national indigenous heritage centre as outlined in the city deal proposal, we have a shovel-ready project in the Cairns Gallery Precinct which will have an indigenous focus and we would like to see the State Government support this as a matter of priority,” Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said.

“The business plan for this project, which was funded by the State Government, has been completed and was submitted to both Brisbane and Canberra over a year ago.”

The mayor added that the business case “well and truly stacks up”.

“Yet there has been no commitment of support for this viable and important project by either the state and federal governments,” he said.

“Not only will this project add to the city as a tourism attraction, it will support more than 150 full-time jobs during construction and once up and running will create almost 180 jobs in our city.”

Cairns MP Michael Healy backs the concept after he conceded that the tourism hub was “dead in the water”, and said Cairns was the most strategically and geographically suited location for such a museum.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“There are thousands of artefacts around Australia, but there is not one national facility dedicated to showcasing and acknowledging indigenous Australians and Torres Strait islanders and their cultures,” he said. “Also associated with that centre is an art centre that would add to the tourism component.

“It would also do so much for the reconciliation process.”

Mr Healy said he envisaged that all levels of governments would be involved.

“It’s early days, but this is something that needs to be promoted and pushed,” he said.

The government in 2018 touted the concept for Brisbane and later dedicated $2m to assessing options for a First Nations cultural centre in the capital.

Mr Healy said there would be differences between the Brisbane and Cairns sites, with the former focusing on southeast Queensland while the latter has a national footprint.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the government believed in the importance of indigenous tourism.

“That’s why the Premier has extended the Year of Indigenous Tourism to 2021 to grow this sector,” she said.

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Originally published as Cairns leaders push for First Nations cultural centre to replace Global Tourism Hub