Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 22

TROPIC • BUSINESS

Bold hub plan
actually bring their culture and stories
ONE-STOP SHOP about their area to the fore. The cultural
stories associated with events like the
Immerse yourself in authentic formations of the lakes on the Tablelands,
experiences, bush foods, art the formation of the Great Barrier Reef
and crafts and ancient stories and of Black Mountain have been passed
at the newly-opened Cairns
Indigenous Tourism Hub. experiences, such as the Tjapukai

Words: Renee Cluff The vision is about Aboriginal Cultural Centre, to immersive
on-country walks with elders. The
Connections to Cairns dating back tens Indigenous people telling meeting place also features an arts
of thousands of years are showcased at and crafts gallery and a bush food café.
the Indigenous Tourism Hub in Aplin stories about their country “Come to the home of the Davidson Plum
Street. It’s an Aboriginal-led venture and being more involved and talk to the people who grew it for
bringing together the best cultural thousands of years,” GudjuGudju said.
activities, experiences and products the and inclusive in the “Tourism is a platform to showcase a lot of
region has to offer. According to Director tourism industry our culture and techniques, from making
GudjuGudju of the Gimuy Walubara GudjuGudju, fishing nets, our design and architecture,
Yidinji mob, the Hub delivers the right Indigenous the outrigger canoe, ancient cultivation of
stories, in the right place, told by the right Tourism Hub the land. There’s so much that hasn’t been
people. “The vision is about Indigenous tapped into and that’s why the hub is a
people telling stories about their country down for many generations and they place to come.”
and being more involved and inclusive need to be told by those custodians.
in the tourism industry,” he said. “In People want to know those stories.” VISIT: Corner of Aplin and McLeod St,
the Year of Indigenous Tourism I think The hub caters for bookings for Cairns City
people are starting to look at how to everything from the most polished
In the hub

APPORIGINEE
An Indigenous experience booking centre established by GudjuGudju and his partner,
Jenny Lynch, AppOriginee includes immersive indigenous experiences from right across
the region. It’s a go-to for those seeking a wide range of activities, from spearfishing at
Cooya Beach and walking amongst the mangroves with one of the the Kubirri Warra
brothers, to a 4WD tour to see magnificent Quinkan rock art at Laura. It’s also where you
can access smaller, on country ventures that don’t yet have an online presence.

INDIGENOUS TOURS
Works in partnership with local Indigenous groups to develop Indigenous tourism products.
They host marketing and social media workshops, provide advice on brochure development
and advise on export-ready requirements and develop with external partners, training
opportunities for the next generation of Indigenous tour operators.

GUMBUGUMBU CAFÉ
GumbuGumbu translates as ‘anytime eating place’ in the
Gimuy Walubara Yidinji language. The café features dishes
created using locally-sourced native ingredients. It’s also a
bush food incubation hub, in which wild harvesters can
bring along their produce to trial dishes in conjunction ELDERS CORPORATION
with local chefs.
The Gimuy Elders Corporation has an
office at the Cairns Indigenous Tourism
KGARI 3 SISTERS Hub. It’s a meeting place for local
The Kgari 3 sisters art gallery and gift shop features elders, housing an amazing depth of
works by local artists in a wide range of mediums from combined knowledge and experience
acrylic paint and ochre art on canvas to Jewellery, pottery of local lore, customs, country and
and functional glazed ceramics. You’ll also find their stories. The not-for-profit Corporation
Aboriginal prints on Clothing and Home Deco to corporate also assists community, by applying for
gifts and souvenirs. The gallery is operated by acclaimed government grants for initiatives such
local artist Susan Reys and Hendrick Fourmile. as training and business development
programs.

63 • tropicnow.com.au