Shellharbour City Council asked us to prepare a feasibility study for a Coastal Aboriginal Interpretive Centre. The objectives of this project were to:
- Identify options for a Keeping Place, leading Aboriginal interpretation experiences, Interpretation Centre, and governance model to service them
- Choose the most superior option(s) for the core Aboriginal interpretation experience(s), location of a Centre and governance model to service them
- Determine the feasibility of three selected sites for the superior options to be located
- Recommend which site is the most feasible for a Business Case to be prepared
Aboriginal Interpretation Centres have a chequered history of success – not attracting many visitors, being expected to cover their own costs and struggling to do so. Similar Centres have demonstrated poor historic performance in attracting many visitors and operating on a break even basis – those that have, needed almost a decade to get there. We developed three ‘Wow Factor’ experiences:
- Bush Tucker Tour linking middens, keeping place, Killalea and Bass Point and Aboriginal seafood collection, cooking, eating & storytelling
- Night-time storytelling & cultural performance around camp fire
- Overnight camping accommodation experience that includes some traditional food and storytelling around camp fire
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An interpretation centre (building) was concepted to operate as the arrival point and the centrepiece of the operation. The building would include:
- Orientation display space
- Keeping Place
- Modest sized retail and ticketing space
- Education room
- General purpose meeting room
- Kiosk / basic kitchen and indoor seating area
- Modest office space
- Storage space
- Outdoor fire pit and horseshoe seating around it
We undertook a feasibility study that included assessing three sites, determining development costs and preparing visitation and financial forecasts. We provided a frank and clear conclusion on the need for ongoing deficit funding, which Council was extremely grateful for.