Category 2 recipients — delivering built infrastructure and facilities

Funded projects

Applicant	Project	Location	RTO
Bunya Peoples' Aboriginal Corporation	Establish Bonye Biar Bush University - 'In-Country' Learning Places and an Aboriginal Tour Package	Bunya Mountains	Southern Queensland Country
Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC	Establish a new business, K'gari Cultural Tours and develop and operate tours on the island	K’gari	Fraser Coast
Gidarjil Development Corporation Ltd	Construct training, commercial kitchen and other faciltities to support Mon Repos Cultural Tourism	Burnett Heads	Bundaberg
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council	Develop Kowanyama Visitor Camping and develop pilot for two eco-tourism tours	Kowanyama	TTNQ
Olkola Aboriginal Corporation	Establish the Olkola Cultural Knowledge Centre as a base for indigenous studies	Olkola Country, Cape York	TTNQ
ST Tours Saltwater Eco Tours	Purchase and refit of the ‘Spray of the Coral Coast’ vessel then operate by Saltwater Eco Tours	Mooloolaba	Sunshine Coast
Thompson Business Trust	Establish The Fringe Camp @ The Dolly as an immersive bush camp experience	Barcaldine	Outback
Torres Shire Council	Support the delivery of a Thursday Island Tourism Information and Business Centre	Thursday Island	TTNQ
Saltwater Club*	Operate Maritime Cultural Heritage Adventures and Experiences on tall ships *Project did not proceed	Portsmith	TTNQ

Project descriptions

Establish Bonye Biar Bush University

We supported the Bunya Peoples’ Aboriginal Corporation to create two 'In-Country' learning spaces at Gummingurru, north of Toowoomba and within the landscape at Russell Park, Bunya Mountains.

The Gummingurru project constructed and planted native gardens representing the surrounding lands. Scar trees were relocated, and a fire pit and yarning circle constructed looking out to the iconic stone arrangements. Interpretative signage was installed to support educational and cultural tours.

At the Bunya Mountains location a ‘Dhakkin’ sculptural meetings ground and Bunya Genestreams Songline Sculpture has been constructed, including a 120 metre rock and concrete serpent.

The project developed a commissionable Aboriginal tour package built upon authentic cultural content, training Aboriginal tour guides and established a platform for a sustained tourism stream of businesses.

The project was funded $542,826 and Bonye Bush University was officially opened in April 2022.

Establish K’gari Cultural Tours

We provided a grant to Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation for the K’gari Cultural Tours project which involves the establishment of an Indigenous-owned and managed tourism business, offering unique cultural services and experiences for visitors to K’gari.

The project was funded $877,000 and is progressing towards an official launch of KCT anticipated in the second half of 2023.

Mon Repos Cultural Tourism Project

The Gidarjil Development Corporation Limited received a grant to develop a training and commercial kitchen facility at the Port of Bundaberg and the Giji Café at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Bundaberg.

The café and commercial kitchen will provide training to help young Indigenous people in the Wide Bay Burnett region to find employment in the hospitality industry.

Visitors to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre can enjoy bush-tucker inspired food. The menu offers a delicious array of native food inspired treats such as barramundi spring rolls, pepper berry chutney and lemon myrtle sauce.

The project was funded $490,000 with Milbi Café Mon Repos and the Catering Company at Burnett Heads opening in 2021.

Kowanyama Visitor Camping and Tours Pilot

Kowanyama, meaning Place of Many Waters, is an Aboriginal community on the Mitchell River in the Gulf Savannah region. Kowanyama has a rich cultural heritage and unlike many other Aboriginal communities the people were not displaced which means the majority of those living in Kowanyama today are Traditional Owners.

The project delivers a serviced bush camp at Oriners Homestead, located in Olkola Country (approximately 3.5 hours drive from Kowanyama). The site offers rich woody savannah ecology and will feature interpretiative signage, walking trails and guided walks by Traditional Rangers.

The project was funded $250,000 to deliver bush camping grounds at Oriner’s Station Homestead.

Olkola Cultural Knowledge Centre

Olkola Aboriginal Corporation received a grant to develop and construct a Cultural Knowledge Centre on Olkola Country in central Cape York.

The Centre will be the first of it’s kind in Australia, offering a culturally significant tourism experience and act as a gateway to Cape York.

It will offer day visit experiences, tourism accommodation for multi-day cultural tours and a scientific research campus for innovative land management work that combines traditional cultural and contemporary scientific knowledge.

The Centre will provide significant innovation through an environmentally sustainable building that acts as a catalyst for creating sustainable livelihoods on Country by combining cultural, economic and environmental needs and aspirations.

The project was funded $981,747 and is progressing towards completion anticipated by early 2024.

Saltwater Eco Tours

We provided a grant to Saltwater Eco Tours for the purchase, restoration, refit and commissioning of the Spray of the Coral Coast, a 58ft timber ketch, built in 1908. The vessel is thought to be the oldest Spray sailing in Australia and possibly the world.

The ship is now owned and operated by Indigenous Young Tourism Leader of 2020, Simon Thornalley, a Torres Strait Islander man who grew up sailing the Queensland coast.

It is to be operated by Saltwater Eco Tours, Mooloolaba, cruising along the pristine Mooloolah River, offering unique marine experiences and combines Indigenous culture, maritime history, and sharing stories and traditions of the Kabi Kabi people of the Sunshine Coast, through the art of storytelling, music and delicious native bushfoods.

The project was funded $297,500 and the ship was commissioned in May 2023.

Outback Fringe Camp Resort

We provided funding to The Thompson Business Trust for the development of  the Outback Fringe Camp Resort in Barcaldine.

Once completed, the project will welcome travellers to an accessible, yet immersive ‘Desert Mob’ experience. The camp will offer non-powered caravan and camping sites, amenities, kitchens, a pool and an art studio.

The project was funded $1 million and is progressing towards completion anticipated by the end of 2023.

Thursday Island Tourism Information and Business Centre

Torres Shire Council have been granted funds to develop the Thursday Island Tourism and Information Business Centre to capture and develop tourism potential in the Torres Strait region.

Boasting a vibrant Indigenous culture and largely untouched natural environment, as well as a fascinating history, the Torres Strait offers tourists a unique experience.

The centre will provide services to visitors and residents, including information about accommodation, transport, local goods and tours the region has to offer.

The centre will serve as a hub for training and upskilling residents and for promoting and marketing the region and it’s local businesses as a tourist destination.

The project was funded $1 million and contributes to the delivery of the new centre.