ABORIGINAL INTERPRETIVE PLAY SPACE WINS YET ANOTHER AWARD

Shellharbour City Council’s Aboriginal Interpretive play space has won another two prestigious awards, bringing the total number of awards received since officially opening in April 2023 to four.

The play space, named Yirran muru, won the Education and Interpretation Category, and Highly Commended in the Aboriginal Heritage Category at the 30th annual National Trust Heritage Awards 2024.

This is yet another milestone for Yirran murru, securing first place in a non-Aboriginal award category and seeking state recognition for its contribution to education and interpretation.

The awards ceremony is an annual celebration of outstanding practice, awarding excellence in conservation of Aboriginal, built, natural and cultural heritage.

Located in the native gardens behind the Shellharbour Civic Centre, Yirran muru, meaning ‘many pathways’ in Dharawal, is an authentic Aboriginal interpretive play space that shares local Dharawal culture through Aboriginal methods of learning. From the escarpment to the sea, Yirran muru is designed to take you on a cultural journey following the historic seasonal movements of local Aboriginal people.

Last month the play space received the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) Excellence Awards. It also won silver at the 2023 Landscape Excellence Awards.

Mayor Chris Homer said Yirran muru’s most recent honour recognised its cultural and educational value. “The Aboriginal Interpretive play space is an incredible addition to our city. To be recognised with four prestigious awards is absolutely wonderful,” Mayor Homer said.

“It is an amazing achievement and a credit to the collaboration between our local Aboriginal community and Council staff. “Yirran muru is a celebration of Dharawal culture, a unique space in which local Aboriginal culture is shared with the community through play and nature. “It’s a beautiful space. If you haven’t yet visited Yirran muru, please go and check it out,” Mayor Homer said.

Learn more about Yirran muru here.