BANGERANG CULTURAL CENTRE

The Bangerang Cultural Centre, originally known as the Aboriginal Keeping Place, was built as part of the International Village project in Shepparton. First conceived in 1974, the Keeping Place was finally opened in 1982 after many years of planning. The International Village was set up in 1974 as a tourist attraction by the Shepparton Council to celebrate the contributions of different ethnic groups. A space was allocated to the local Aboriginal community for an arts and crafts centre. The community, and in particular John (Sandy) Atkinson, OAM, a leading figure in Aboriginal organisations, had a more imaginative plan to set up their own museum or keeping place which would display artefacts and provide a resource centre for educating people about the cultural heritage of the Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council, to which Sandy Atkinson was appointed in 1976, met with the local community with the result that the Shepparton Aboriginal Arts Council Co-operative was set up with funding by the Arts Board.

The Co-operative, managed by Sandy Atkinson, spent many years convincing organisations and individuals to commit to their visionary plan. Shepparton Council set aside a grant of $70,000 and provided the land on the site. Subsequently in July 1978 a deputation visited the Premier of Victoria Rupert Hamer to seek a firm commitment to the project by the State Government. The deputation headed by the leader of the Country Party, Peter Ross Edwards, included the Chairman of the Australia Council, Geoffrey Blainey; Sandy Atkinson; and the Mayor of Shepparton, Murray Slee. As a result the Government allocated $170,000 towards the building. The Australia Council and the Aboriginal Arts Board provided an additional $140,000.

The innovative architect Robin Boyd (1919-1971) had designed a circular interpretation centre at Tower Hill, Koroit in 1962, although it was not completed until 1970. When Sandy Atkinson visited the centre at the suggestion of Shepparton identity Mr Kilgour, he was inspired to contact Boyd's partner Frederick Romberg who agreed to design the building, with assistance from Ken Edelstein. The plans were drawn up in 1979 and the successful tenderer was KG Renwick Holdings Pty Ltd of Deniliquin.

Sandy Atkinson saw the building as a circle, an important symbol in Aboriginal culture. Romberg translated this idea into a brick octagonal building originally with a wide cedar shingle roof lit by skylights and surrounded by a timber colonnade. The windows are narrow and full height. Internally the space is divided into eight bays housing the four dioramas and other display areas. There is a theatrette and a mezzanine level containing storerooms and office space. Due to failure of the shingles, the original roof was replaced by the Rotary Club with the existing metal sheet roof.

The building was deliberately sited in a prominent position near the entrance to the International Village and set in landscaped undulating grounds partly encircled with water. A grassed amphitheatre was established to stage cultural events. It was originally intended that a bush garden would surround the building with edible fruits and plants. Although this did not eventuate, cumbungi reeds (Typha sp.) were planted along the waterways to provide the material for spear making and basket weaving.

The Centre, housing a range of cultural items from both the local area and other parts of Australia, continues to run as a museum and cultural centre operated by the Bangerang Cultural Centre Co-operative Ltd.

How is it significant?

Bangerang Cultural Centre is of historical, social and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

Bangerang Cultural Centre is historically significant as an important landmark in the struggle of the Aboriginal people to maintain their own culture. As the first Aboriginal managed museum in Victoria to be planned, the Centre is a tangible symbol of the shift of attitude in society from the idea of assimilation to self-determination. The idea for a Keeping Place was conceived in the early 1970s in a climate of increasing consciousness of Aboriginal conditions and issues. In Victoria a long campaign for community control at Lake Tyers Reserve had resulted in the Aboriginal Lands Act 1971 which transferred land deeds to the Lake Tyers and Framlingham communities. The Shepparton Keeping Place was an early and innovative idea for a museum which empowered Aboriginal people to interpret their own heritage for indigenous and non-indigenous people.

Bangerang Cultural Centre is historically significant for its collection of four dioramas: Bogong Moths, River Economy, Mount William Technology and Corroboree which feature life size figures engaged in traditional aspects of Aboriginal life. The figures are copies of the Museum of Victoria 19th century lifecasts made from members of the Yarra tribe of Melbourne. The dioramas were the work of Victorian artist George Browning (1918-2000), graduate of the National Gallery of Victoria School and RMIT. As an official war artist attached to the Military History Section in New Guinea and Borneo from 1943 to 1946, he not only produced a substantial collection of paintings and drawings but after the war he also worked extensively on the Australian War Memorial dioramas, as well as work for the Museum of Victoria.

Bangerang Cultural Centre is of social significance for the important role it has played for many Aboriginal people in preserving their identity and raising awareness of indigenous culture. It has assisted in maintaining the cultural heritage of descendants of the Bangerang people. The Bangerang tribe of Northern Victoria consisted of ten different clan groups living in the region between the Murray and Goulburn Rivers.

Bangerang Cultural Centre is architecturally significant as a work of renowned architect Frederick Romberg (1913-1992). Romberg was a partner in the innovative firm of Grounds, Romberg and Boyd from 1953 to 1962; and later with Romberg and Boyd. In 1965 Romberg was appointed Professor of Architecture at the University of Newcastle, returning to Melbourne in 1975. The modest Keeping Place is perhaps the most interesting work from the latter part of his career. Architectural historian, Harriet Edquist has suggested that the Keeping Place, designed after Boyd's death in 1971, could be Romberg's homage to his partner. That such a ground-breaking architect as Romberg was chosen for the Keeping Place project adds to our appreciation of this place as an innovative project ahead of its time.

Group

Community Facilities

Category

Other - Community Facilities