The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre is proud to launch its Indigenous Heritage Project – a research based project aimed at showcasing the contribution indigenous stockmen and women played in shaping the Australian pastoral industry.
Many of our visitors would like to see more recognition given to Indigenous men and women and the important role they played in developing the Outback and the pastoral stations. This project aims to remedy this and tell the untold stories. The project has several stages outlined below.
Jack Thompson, Life Member of the Hall, is helping drive the project and narrated the film. Sponsored by Pilatus Aircraft and the Indigenous Land Council, the documentary is ready to be released and we’d like to share this with you to seek your feedback and support. The film is to be used to launch the project, generate awareness of our aims, and seek funding.
$150,000 is required immediately to start researching the project. Gathering stories and articles for the new gallery will take 12-18 months and will require much travel. We are asking for support, both in-kind and financially, to commence this Stage.
In addition to the research component, a new building will be built adjacent to the rear of the Hugh Sawrey Art Gallery as a new storage facility to allow us to renew one of the Galleries and to store additional items collected as a result of the project research. The cost is estimated at $3 million to fully restructure the new gallery and cater for IT and structural upgrades to the building.
As part of the overall plan to ensure the sustainability of the Hall, an Outback Heritage Camp is to be built comprising of 12 safari-style tents onsite at the Hall. To maximise the Indigenous story visitors will have the chance to stay in the tents themed with cultural experiences offered each night by local indigenous people. These stories will display a mix of traditional culture and modern day stockman learning. Funds required $2 million.
Ultimately we hope to take the stories on the road to schools and events across Australia. This would provide a significant employment and education opportunity promoting indigenous heritage and current stories around Australia.
To view a short trailer of the film on Youtube - click: