Mossman Gorge Centre marks 10 years
Indigenous elder’s vision to share culture has been a remarkable success.
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One of far north Queensland's most iconic tourism attractions, the award-winning Mossman Gorge Centre, has celebrated its 10th anniversary as a gateway to Australia's World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest.
Managed by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Mossman Gorge Centre was the vision of Kuku Yalanji elder Roy Gibson who recognised, with the amount of visitors to the Daintree, there was an opportunity to share the Kuku Yalanji culture, while providing a pathway of sustainability and leadership for local Indigenous youth.
CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia Matthew Cameron Smith said Uncle Roy had a dream about having a cultural centre at Mossman Gorge and with the support and funding from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) in 2012, his dream became a reality.
“In collaboration with the Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community and Kuku Yalanji elders, the centre has been supporting economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits for the community for an impressive 10 years now,” Mr Smith said.
Today the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre is recognised as an award-winning ecotourism destination that has welcomed more than 2.7million visitors and taken more than 345,000 people on Dreamtime Walks over the past 10 years, delivering these immersive experiences with at least a 70% Indigenous workforce.
The centre provides a range of guided walks through the rainforest, visitor information services, showcases the art and craft of the local Kuku Yalanji community in the on-site art gallery and retail store, houses the Mayi cafe serving a menu of locally sourced produce with a focus on native ingredients and facilitates shuttle bus transport to the Gorge.
In 1987 that Uncle Roy started Dreamtime Walks which allowed guests to gain an appreciation of the Kuku Yalanji culture and connection to the Mossman Gorge area, while learning about the way the community has lived in the rainforest for generations.
“Our vision for Mossman Gorge Centre is to keep our culture alive, while walking together as one,” Uncle Roy said.
The anniversary event has also seen Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, in collaboration with Kuku Yalanji elders, recognise the role the centre plays in educating and celebrating Indigenous culture announcing a name change to the “Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre.”
The name change will be showcased through a new brand image celebrating the work of local Yalanji artist and Mossman Gorge Tour guide, Cameron Buchanan.
The artwork is a collection of meeting points, connected by paths and is symbolic of the Kuku Yalanji culture connecting across country.
The meeting points also reflect the region's prominent mountain range, Manjal Dimbi, which translated means “mountain holding back”.
According to ancient stories, the large rock formation represents Kubirri, who came to the aid of the Kuku Yalanji “holding back” the evil spirit Wurrumbu.
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