Far North elder calls for Crisafulli government to commit to building world-class Indigenous cultural centre in Cairns

A respected elder says she will lobby for a First Nations cultural centre to be built in Queensland when community cabinet is held in the Far North early next month.

Indigenous elder Henrietta Marrie, of the Yidinji people, is calling on the Queensland Government to build a First Nations Cultural Centre in Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

A respected elder says she will lobby for a First Nations cultural centre to be built in Cairns when community cabinet is held in the Far North early next month.

Community leaders have campaigned for decades for Indigenous cultural centres to be built in Queensland, with the 2032 Olympics adding pressure on the Crisafulli government to finally back the project.

Details from a $3m business case, that has explored building centres in both Cairns and Brisbane, was launched in 2022, with its findings expected to be released soon.

Yidinji elder, Professor Henrietta Marrie, said the project would have an important social and economic impact on the Far North, if approved.

“It would be a place where schools could bring children to learn about the First Nations of peoples in and around Cairns,” she said.

“It could contribute to the tourism industry and that is so crucial too.”

AFL Cape York House's Callum Liddy, Brian Koko and Taum Nona perform at the Dance Rites competition in Sydney.

Additionally, a centre celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures could store and display ancient Yidinji artefacts currently residing in collections overseas, Prof Marrie said.

“We have a lot of items that have been placed in other museums overseas and we’re in the process of getting some of them back,” she said.

“We’re in the process of getting many of our shields repatriated and … this is something that we’re very committed to.”

The site could create new opportunities for all Australians to learn about the world’s oldest continuous cultures.

“It will be precious to get these (artefacts) back so that we can start teaching and having a place for our young children to go and learn about the totems that have been painted on the shields and the many stories attached to them,” Ms Marrie said.

“We’re denying not just our children but others in the region the opportunity to learn more about First Nations history.”

Prof Marrie said she welcomed a recent announcement by Multiculturalism Minister Fiona Simpson to spend $2.7m helping establish a Chinese cultural centre in the Far North.

“The history of the Chinese throughout this region certainly goes way back,” she said.

“But … the government needs to further consider the First Nations museum that was going to be here in Cairns.

“There’s been discussion about it for the past couple of years and it can be of benefit to all people in this region, sharing and educating people about the history of this country.”

Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek says the state government has received a business case which lays out a plan to build a multi-million dollar First Nations cultural centre in Cairns. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek confirmed the Coalition was assessing its options.

“We have recently received the business cases for the First Nations Arts and Cultural Centres in Brisbane and Cairns,” Mr Langbroek said.

“I look forward to providing an update when we have considered the findings of these detailed reports.”

Community cabinet meetings will be held in Cairns on Sunday March 2, 2025.

Originally published as Far North elder calls for Crisafulli government to commit to building world-class Indigenous cultural centre in Cairns