Aboriginal Culture, Heritage
& Arts Association of NSW

To gather, sustain, protect and teach culture

Murrook Cultural Centre seek to deliver a sound, authentic and relevant cultural experience to our visitors helping them to see Australia through the eyes of Aboriginal people.

Murrook’s purpose is to gather, sustain, protect and teach Aboriginal culture to all people with an emphasis on Worimi culture as the land and people of the area. Murrook means ‘good/happy’ in the traditional language of the Worimi (Ghaddung or Kattang)

Most importantly, Murrook is used by Aboriginal community as a gathering place. Aboriginal staff teach many facets of culture, from boomerangs, weapons and tools, didgeridoo, communication like art and dance, bush food medicine, cooking, craft (basket weaving, beading), artefacts and much more. These attract a wide variety of groups, from schools (pre, primary, secondary and tertiary) to community, business and government as well as international visitors.

The facility was previously a tourist fun/amusement park with about 4.5 hectares of land which ceased operations in 2004. The complex houses a large kitchen/restaurant dining area, administration offices, and a large conference hall.

This landscaped facility is in a high tourist and holiday area of abundant natural bush lands, picturesque beaches and beautiful harbours which provide for whale/dolphin watching.

The facility is adjacent to the expanding Newcastle Airport (Williamtown) and its location is of interest to TAFE for the delivery of training to Port Stephens students. The Murrook facility is ideally suited as a business activity hub for Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council due to its resources and location.

Tent camping facilities are available on the grounds of Murrook and offer a lake side location with tours run on site and on country. Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council own and operate Sand Dune Adventures (SDA), which depart daily from the Murrook Cultural Centre. The centre works closely with Worimi LALC to ensure they are preserving the stories, culture and heritage of the lands in all that they do.

Murrook aims to share the Worimi story with as many people as possible. Sand Dune Adventures does this by providing an outstanding Aboriginal experience, helping to connect Australians and international visitors with our country. Sand Dune Adventures provides exclusive access to Aboriginal land. This is a ‘hands-on’ interactive insight into the richness of our culture and heritage. combined with the exhilaration of riding a 400cc Quad Bike through our amazing cultural landscape, the largest coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. The experience helps share knowledge and foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the significance of the sand dunes.

Visitors will hear and learn about age-old connections to country and be exposed to a unique and dynamic hands-on experience that promote traditional stories. The centre supports the aspirations of Traditional Owners who say: “The Worimi continue to walk on this land and make a tremendous contribution. Our desire as Elders is to do all within our power to care for the land, our people and for the environment. This is our commitment to our forefathers.”