Wingecarribee Shire Council acknowledges the Gundungurra and Dharawal people as the Traditional Custodians of this land.
We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Wingecarribee Shire Council recognises the continuous and deep connection to their Ngurra (Country) and that this is of great cultural significance to Aboriginal people, both locally and in the region.
For Gundungurra and Dharawal people, Ngurra (Country) means everything. It is physical, cultural and spiritual.
Council provides a number of initiatives to promote and celebrate Aboriginal culture within the Wingecarribee Shire.
What’s the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgement of Country?
A Welcome to Country is delivered by a Traditional Owner who has been permitted to welcome visitors to their Country. Here in the Wingecarribee Shire, that’s either a Gundungurra or Dharawal person – depending on where the event or ceremony is being held.
A Welcome to Country can include a speech, story, song, dance or smoking ceremony.
An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for anyone to show respect for the Traditional Owners of the land on which they meet. It can be delivered by anyone – Indigenous or non-Indigenous.
There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country. Here’s a suggestion for your next event: “I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respect to Elders both past and present. I would also like to extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders present here today.”
The Wingecarribee Shire Council acknowledges the Gundungurra and “Tharawal” or “Dharawal” (as it is referred to in historical records) people as the traditional custodians of this land.
There is a strong association to the Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Nattai rivers. These rivers are connected to their culture, dreaming and songlines.
A Dreamtime creation story, Gurangatch and Mirragan, speaks about how this whole countryside came into being. The story describes an almighty struggle between two ancestral creator spirits, one a giant eel-like creature, Gurangatch, an incarnation of the ancestral rainbow serpent, and the other, a large native cat or quoll, Mirragan.
In spite of the impact of European settlement of Australia, the Gundungurra and Dharawal Aboriginal heritage has not been extinguished. The remains of prehistoric and historic Aboriginal occupation exists throughout the Southern Highlands.
State Government records indicate that there are over 400 significant Aboriginal sites within the Shire, including 86 sites or objects that exist in the vicinity of Council-managed land or roadside reserves.
There is one sacred Aboriginal Place in Wingecarribee Shire, called Nungungnungulla (Jubilee Rocks). This Aboriginal cultural heritage site was declared by the State Government as the 100th Aboriginal Place in NSW. Nungungnungulla is a significant Aboriginal landmark in the Gundungurra cultural landscape, where Aboriginal engravings, paintings and stencils, grinding grooves, scarred trees and campsites occur. It is a teaching place for educating children about Dreamtime creation stories, Aboriginal culture and its associated values and practices.
Wingecarribee Shire Council recognises that by acknowledging our past, we are laying the groundwork for a future which embraces all Australians; a future based on mutual respect and shared responsibility for our land.
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Group details:
- Women's Yarning Group evening ( 2nd Thursday of the month) (Nichole & Lisa - Night)
- All Mob's Creative Group (4th Thursday of the month) (Nicole & Lisa - Night)
- Day Yarning Group (4th Friday of the month) (Lisa - Day)
Location Address: Cultural Centre, 1a Rainbow Rd, Mittagong, 2577
Email Contacts:
Session Dates and Times
| Date |
Host |
Group |
Day |
Evening |
| 12 February |
Nichole & Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
|
Y |
| 26 February |
Nichole & Lisa |
All Mobs Creative Group |
|
Y |
| 27 February |
Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
Y |
|
| 12 March |
Nichole & Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
|
Y |
| 26 March |
Nichole & Lisa |
All Mobs Creative Group |
|
Y |
| 27 March |
Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group
|
Y |
|
| 9 April |
Nichole & Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
|
Y |
| 23 April |
Nichole & Lisa |
All Mobs Creative Group |
|
Y |
| 24 April |
Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
Y |
|
| 24 April |
Nichole & Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
|
Y |
| 14 May |
Nichole & Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
|
Y |
| 22 May |
Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group
|
Y |
|
| 28 May |
Nichole & Lisa |
All Mobs Creative Group |
|
Y |
| 11 June |
Nichole & Lisa |
Women's Yarning Group |
|
Y |
| 25 June |
Nichole & Lisa |
All Mobs Creative Group |
|
Y |
| 26 June |
Nichole |
Women's Yarning Group |
Y |
|
Day sessions: 10:00 am - 1.00 pm
Evening sessions: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
* Please contact Lisa if you need to confirm if the day sessions are going ahead.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander significant dates:
27 May - 3 June 2026 will be National Reconciliation Week. This year's theme, 'All in', is an invitation to all Australians to commit to reconciliation every single day.
All In - Atrium Exhibition
Join us at the Atrium from Wednesday, 27 May – Wednesday, 3 June for our 'All In' National Reconciliation Week Atrium Exhibition.
Students from across the Shire were invited to enter an art competition to celebrate National Reconciliation Week. Taking part in the exhibition, we have 5 local schools, including students from years 7 and 8 from Bowral High and years 5 and 6 students from Bowral Primary School, Colo Vale Primary, Mittagong Primary School and Moss Vale Primary School. They have created works reflecting this year’s theme: 'All In' and demonstrating what reconciliation means to them.
Winners will be announced during the exhibition week.
Visit the event page to find out more
Wingecarribee Libraries - Reconciliation Week activities
Visit our libraries that are hosting some craft activities to celebrate National Reconciliation Week 2026.
We’ll be running National Reconciliation Week-themed storytimes across the branch libraries.
- Thursday 28 May, Moss Vale and Mittagong Libraries
- Friday 29 May Bowral Library
For older children, join us for Turtle Weaving drop-in craft which will be available at all libraries during NRW.
Wingecarribee Reconciliation Day - Community event
Council are proudly collaborating with Highlands Community Centres, with support from Creative Space, Highlands Youth Centres, NIAA and St Vincents de Paul Society for a Community Cultural event on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Time: From 9.00 am at Wingecarribee Aboriginal Community Centre (WACC) in Mittagong
Details: Meet at the WACC to get the bus to Oxley Hill Lookout and then on to Casburn Park in Wingello for free cultural activities and lunch.
Booking: Register for your FREE ticket to attend
Other information
Find out more about what's on this National Reconciliation Week visit: Reconciliation Australia and National Reconciliation Week 2026 events across Australia
Find resources for National Reconciliation Week:
In July 2024 a Cultural Burning in Bushland Reserves workshop was held with the local Aboriginal Community members at the Wingecarribee Aboriginal Community Cultural Centre in Mittagong and included a Welcome to Country given by Gundungurra Elder, Aunty Sharyn Halls. A presentation was led by Den and his team from Yarrabin Cultural Connections, with participation from Aboriginal community members, ILALC staff, NSW RFS Volunteers and WSC staff. Further Cultural burns are proposed for Gibbergunyah and Mount Alexandra along with a community workshop and tour of the sites during winter and spring.
Check our website for updates and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest news and events.
(PDF, 3MB)
Find out more about Cultural Burning in Wingecarribee Bushlands Reserves on our dedicated web page - Aboriginal Cultural Burning in Wingecarribee Bushland Reserves.
National NAIDOC week takes place from 5 - 12 July 2026.
The 2026 theme, "50 Years Deadly," celebrates 5 decades of NAIDOC Week, celebrating the voices of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
We will host a range of events to celebrate NAIDOC Week at the Civic Centre, Moss Vale, with details of these events to be shared soon.
Family Fun Day: Ngununggula Art Gallery
This year, Wingecarribee Shire Council, in partnership with Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery, will run our NAIDOC event.
When: Monday, 6 July
Time: 11 am - 2 pm
Where: Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery, 1 Art Gallery Lane, Bowral 2576.
The morning will commence in the grounds of Ngununggula Gallery with:
- A Welcome to Country
- Cultural Dance
- Smoking Ceremony
Following this will be family-friendly activities, FREE BBQ lunch and stalls. There is also an on-site cafe where food and beverages are available for purchase.
50 Years of Deadly: Atrium exhibition
The Civic Centre will host our annual NAIDOC Week Atrium Exhibition, exploring art and design by local contemporary First Nations artists.
Location: Atrium, Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale 2577.
Date: During July
Event page details: More details to come soon.
Picture: Gundungurra Elder Aunty Sharyn with Council staff.
Download a useful guide from Community Circles Wingecarribee.
This publication provides links and information for support organisations, service providers and community groups for Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal Community Support Networks Wingecarribee(PDF, 2MB)
Wingecarribee Aboriginal Community Cultural Centre
Location: 1a Rainbow Rd, Mittagong, 2577
Centre bookings: Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council
Phone: 02 4226 3338
Email: admin@ilalc.org.au
Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association Incorporated (GAHAI)
Aunty Sharyn Halls (Gundungurra Elder)
Email: ghal6522@bigpond.net.au
Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council (ILALC)
Phone: 02 4226 3338
Email: ceo@ilalc.org.au
Dhungung (food) share
Wingecarribee Aboriginal Community Cultural Centre
1a Rainbow Rd, Mittagong, 2577
Aunty Sharyn Halls (Gundungurra Elder)
Associated to the Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association Incorporated
Email: ghal6522@bigpond.net.au
David King – Gundungurra T.O
Email: davidkingbluemtns@gmail.com
Den Barber – Yarrabin Cultural Connections
Aboriginal Presenter on Land and Cultural Fire Burning
Email: yarrabin@hotmail.com
National Parks and Wildlife Services
Aboriginal Discovery Rangers
Phone: David Duffy 0429 680 811
Email: david.duffy@environment.nsw.gov.au
National Parks and Wildlife Services
Bush Tucker and Medicine Gardens – Pat Hall
Email: pat.hall@environment.nsw.gov.au
Native Bush and Medicine Plants
Wariapendi Native Nursery
Wendy Lotter – Platypus Dreamin Aboriginal Education Programs
Phone: 0422 631 243
Email: platypusdreamin@gmail.com
Wingecarribee Community Centre Advisory Committee
Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council
Phone: 02 4226 3338
Email: ceo@ilalc.org.au
Wingecarribee Aboriginal Network
Email: Jeanne.duffy@sectorconnect.org.au
Aboriginal flag
The Aboriginal flag was recognised under Federal legislation, as was the Torres Strait Islands flag, in July 1995. The Aboriginal flag was first displayed on 12 July 1971, National Aborigines' Day at Victoria Square in Adelaide. It was also used at the 'Tent Embassy' in Canberra in 1972.
Designed by Aboriginal Elder Harold Thomas in 1971, this flag symbolises Aboriginal identity. Yellow represents the sun (giver of life) and yellow ochre. Red represents the red earth (the relationship to the land) and the red ochre used in ceremonies. Black represents the Aboriginal people.
The flag is flown or displayed permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout Australia. It is popularly recognised as the flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia and should only be flown by other Australians when permission has been granted.
Torres Strait Islander flag
The flag, designed by Islander Mr Bernard Namok, was adopted in 1992. Green represents the islands, blue the sea and black the local Melanesian people. A stylised dancer's head-dress known as a DARI, and a five pointed star appear on the flag. The star alludes to the five main island zones and is sometimes interpreted as a symbol of the 'Coming of the Light' in Christianity.
The Murraual (Murra-wall) 4K Playspace at David Wood playing fields was upgraded in 2025 at David Wood Playing Fields in East Bowral. This project was funded in partnership with the NSW Government under the Stronger Country Communities Fund and with local community group The 4K who strive to provide a significantly better environment within the Southern Highlands of NSW for kids with special needs. The Playspace was officially opened on Monday, 11 August 2025.
The design takes inspiration from the story of Gurangatch and Mirragan and the creation of the Jenolan Caves, Wingecarribee River and Wollondilly River. More can be read on this story below.
Enjoy these free colouring-in resources created to support the opening of our new Murraural 4K Playspace in East Bowral. The designs are based on Indigenous Artist Pam Luke's incredible artworks, inspired by the story of Gurangatch and Mirragan and the creation of the Jenolan Caves, Wingecarribee River and Wollondilly River. These works were transposed onto the footpath by Street Artist, Bjani Wark. The Artworks have also helped to form the basis of the design for the entire Murraural 4K playspace.
Click on one of these beautiful designs to download a PDF copy to download, print and colour in.
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