Immerse yourself and your family in local culture at Murrook Culture Centre, situated on Worimi land at Williamtown. Explore the interactive exhibition centre, enjoy storytelling and art displays, have a bite to eat at Yapay Djalgil Murrook Café, take part in one of the many workshops available or sign the kids up for a school holiday program. Be prepared to leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the timeless traditions of Aboriginal culture.
This is not your regular gallery or café – Murrook (meaning “good” or “happy” in the Gathang Language) is a unique space where community and culture converge. Relax and unwind in the indoor and outdoor areas, take time to listen, and feel a profound connection to Country.
Entry is free and walk-ins are welcome. The centre is open daily from 9am to 4pm (check their Facebook page for public holiday opening times). Park in the large, free car park; there’s plenty of parking space, including disabled parking.
The Exhibition Centre, located to the left of the entry, is free to enter. Exhibitions are changing all the time, but one our family recently enjoyed was the Out of Sight Out of Mind Exhibition, featuring incredible underwater photography by Underwater Earth. Other recent exhibitions have included Guwayu by renowned artist Karla Dickens and the 50 Years of NAIDOC Exhibition. Check the Murrook Culture Centre Facebook page for information on their latest exhibition.
In the permanent exhibit area you’re able to relax on a cushion and be inspired by the incredible audio-visual display telling the complex and rich story of the origins of the Worimi People.
Both kids and adults will enjoy exploring the interactive table with images, both historic and recent, of local Aboriginal culture. Have fun clicking on each image, enlarging them to reveal more information.
When it’s time to eat, enjoy the serene outdoor surrounds over breakfast or a light lunch at Yapay Djalgil Murrook Café. The café serves up reasonably-priced and soul-nourishing food. On a nice day, consider a takeaway picnic to enjoy in the beautiful outdoor area.
If you’re interested in learning more about Aboriginal culture and history of the Port Stephens area, Murrook Culture Centre offers a hands-on learning approach through their workshops and national award-winning ATV guided tours of Worimi Conservation Lands. Workshops include dance, boomerang and spear throwing, didjeridoo workshops, art, beading, weaving, ecosystem walks and more.
Visit their website or reception desk for more information.
Developing all the time, Murrook has recently started offering Kids Holiday Programs, available to kids aged 6-12 of all cultural backgrounds. Their pilot program, run in the 2024/2025 summer school holidays was a runaway success. Be sure to look out for future School Holiday offerings!
Good to know:
Address: 2163 Nelson Bay Road, Williamtown NSW 2318
Phone: (02) 4033 8800
Website: Murrook website
Amenities: Toilets onsite (including disabled toilets and baby change table)
Cost: Murrook Culture Centre, including the Exhibition Centre, are free to enter. Extra cost for workshops and activities.
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm daily (check the Murrook Facebook page for public holiday opening times)
Interested to learn more about local Aboriginal Culture?
Miromaa Language and Technology Centre
The Miromaa Language and Technology Centre, located at Level 1/9 Main Road Boolaroo houses a library and gallery with rich resources and intriguing displays about Aboriginal culture and language nationwide. Their extensive library includes 2,500+ books and 15,000+ digital books as well as language education resources available for sale.
The centre also house a collection of old photographs, rare prints and sports memorabilia. The artefacts collection includes: didgeridoos, battle axes, spears, woomeras (spear thrower), grinding stones, digging sticks, coolomons, clapsticks, carvings and emu eggs. Staff are on hand to explain the cultural significance behind each piece. Contact the centre first to make an appointment.
Newcastle Museum
Before you visit the Newcastle Museum, be sure to download or print the Muloobinba Map. Located throughout the museum, the map will help you and your family explore significant local Aboriginal histories, exploring the themes of work, leisure, and culture, and discover some of the most cherished objects within the Museum collection.
You can also take your family on an exciting historical adventure without leaving the house! Explore the fascinating world of the Awabakal and Worimi people through the Niiarrnumber Burrai (Our Country) virtual reality video on the Newcastle Museum website. This 18-minute video takes viewers on a journey to nine special places around the Newcastle area. You’ll learn about traditional way of life, discover some local language, and even feel like you’re there with a special Welcome to Country. It’s a simple and fantastic introduction to the rich cultural history of our region.
Belmont Lagoon Reserve
Belmont Lagoon is an ancient Awabakal dreaming site and a place of great cultural and spiritual significance to the Awabakal people. It is also the location of one of the region’s most beautiful dreamtime stories: When the Moon Cried. Formed by a teardrop of the moon on the night the moon cried. You can read the full story on the Awabakal Language Program website.
Dreamtime Stories
Our region is home to some beautiful locations of Aboriginal Dreamtime stories such as:
- When the Moon Cried (Belmont Lagoon)
- Tiddalik the Greedy Frog (Wollombi Valley)
- How Coal Was Made (Redhead)
Before visiting, consider reading the stories on the Awabakal Language Program website to appreciate the traditional history of these areas.
Creation of the Worimi Conservation Land
Kids and adults alike will love this short film created by the infants class at Glen William Public School based on the Aboriginal Dreaming Story ‘Creation of the Worimi Conservation Land’.