YUP representatives and representatives from Stockland, AVJennings, and Moremac at the signing of the agreement to build a cultural precinct.
In March 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Yuggera Ugarapul People and developers, Stockland, AVJennings and Moremac, to plan a new cultural precinct at Deebing Heights.
The precinct will share stories and artefacts from Ipswich’s First Nation culture and will be located near to the old Deebing Creek Mission site. The signing of the MoU represents an important step toward acknowledging the region’s Indigenous history. Moremac and two other neighbouring landowners (Stockland and AVJennings) have committed to working alongside the YUP to support the building of the cultural precinct. The precinct will include an area to hold functions, community meetings and school educational programs.
“It is important that future generations of First Nations people and the wider community understands our history and what our people have overcome,” said YUP spokesperson Samantha Carr.
“The former Deebing Creek Mission is an area of much heartache. We have a lot to be proud of and want to see this land around Deebing Heights respected and embraced. This cultural precinct can help teach a new generation about First Nations. We want our people to be excited about what the cultural precinct can do,” Samantha said.
The site of the future cultural precinct is on a Moremac landholding. Adjacent to the site is the Stockland landholding, known as ‘Botanica.’ The YUP have been involved with independent cultural heritage assessment of this landholding since 2021 to ensure history and Aboriginal cultural heritage is preserved as much as possible.
“We have developed a strong, respectful working relationship over a number of years with Stockland and this landmark agreement means we can look forward to building on that trust in the delivery of the Deebing Creek Heritage Site and the new precinct,” said Samantha. “The precinct will be a safe ‘keeping place’ for a range of artefacts we have, and any we may find in the future.”
The YUP will play a leading role in the cultural precinct’s design, including guiding materials used, establishing bush trails and food plots and selecting native vegetation.
KEY POINTS:
- An MoU between the YUP and developers Stockland, AVJennings and Moremac was signed in March 2023
- MoU supports the planning and building of a new cultural precinct in Deebing Heights with the YUP playing a key role
- The precinct can help teach new generations and wider communities about First Nations culture
- Stockland have committed to supporting the broader Aboriginal community to access jobs and traineeships as part of their plans for Botanica – the cultural precinct will be a key part of this.
