Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has reaffirmed its support to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community by unanimously adopting the Willum Warrain Master Plan.
The Plan will see Willum Warrain Gathering Place in Hastings transformed into a vision for the future including a new entrance building, gathering place, large auditorium for community use, a dedicated Elders area and a community hub including cafe.
By adopting the Plan, the Shire is proposing to extend the site to six acres and commit to a 30-year lease. We’ve listened to our local Aboriginal community and we’re supporting their self-determination as identified in the Shire's Reconciliation Action Plan.
The Shire will support Willum Warrain’s grant application to the Aboriginal Victoria - Aboriginal Community Infrastructure program.
The Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association is calling for funding support through their GoFundMe page to realise the first stage of the Plan. If both funding streams are successful, the first stage of the building works can begin.
The Plan will see Willum Warrain Gathering Place in Hastings transformed into a vision for the future including:
- New entrance building
- Shop selling community merchandise
- Open amphitheatre for large gatherings
- Artefacts and art display area
- Community hub with café
- Industrial kitchen
- Bush nursery specialising in indigenous plants
- Dedicated Elders area
- Dedicated outdoors men’s-only area
- Men’s Shed storage
- Yarning area
- Wildlife corridor, encouraging the movement of animals
- Carport for community buses
- On Country experiences
- Base for cultural events and tours.
Download: Conceptual Master Plan report for Willum Warrain
Download: Conceptual Master Plan drawings for Willum Warrain
Download: Conceptual Master Plan landscape strategy for Willum Warrain
The Master Plan sets the vision and direction for a renewed Gathering Place at Willum Warrain.
For First Nations People, it’s important to maintain and strengthen their spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands and waters, to uphold their responsibilities to Country, Ancestors, Community, and future generations.
Cultural opportunities will be created which will allow the rekindling of cultural practices and traditional knowledge.
Willum Warrain is:
- the largest employer of Aboriginal people on the Mornington Peninsula
- viewed by many as a destination for reconciliation.
- a place where the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community can gather to explore identity and cultural heritage.
Our Peninsula is one of the fastest growing Aboriginal areas in Victoria with a 34% increase especially in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under the age of 30.
With an increase in population and interest in the site, Willum Warrain has now outgrown its facilities. Future projections show in five years there will be over 10,000 visitors per year and local membership will increase to 3000 people.
