Aboriginal Culture, Heritage
& Arts Association of NSW

Centre of Education, History, Culture and Heritage

The Wungunja Cultural Centre is owned and operated by the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council (Trangie LALC) whose members are of the Wiradjuri and Wongaibon people. The Trangie LALC have a strong board that have shown continual commitment to this project.

The Centre was established as a place to provide education, to hold a collection of family histories and display cultural artefacts that had been collected from the Central West of NSW.

The Trangie LALC purchased the old Scout Hall located in the main street of Trangie in 2012 for a sum of $12,000. The history of the Scout Hall and the Rovers Den log cabin that sits on the site holds strong cultural significance. Aboriginal people that had moved to town from Gin Gin on the Macquarie River lived in the log cabin for a short period of time. Other families have also lived in the cabin that was often used for emergency accommodation when needed.

In 2016 the Scout Hall was renovated, keeping the heritage look of the building. These renovations were initially funded by money saved by the Trangie LALC. They were then successful in receiving $50,000 from the NSWALC Community Fund Grant. The total cost of establishing the Centre was approximately $200,000.

The name Wungunja was chosen by the members as the Aboriginal community of Trangie were often called the Wungunja (clever) people many years ago.

After establishing the Centre in 2017, it is now open seven days a week. The Wungunja Centre operates on a not-for-profit basis, has a part-time employee 5 days a week and about 20 volunteers that look after the centre during weekends. The Centre is now the Information Centre for Trangie as well as a Driver Reviver facility.

The Trangie LALC is looking at extending the building to include an exhibition space that will allow artists to showcase their artwork in all forms.