CEREMONY MARKS RETURN OF BULAGARANDA (MT YARROWYCK) TO ABORIGINAL OWNERS

Aboriginal owners today celebrated the return of almost 600 hectares of land west of Armidale under a joint management agreement with the NSW Government.

Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said traditional owners hosted a special ceremony to mark the land hand back.

“The Anaiwan and Armidale people have been waiting a long time for this transfer, and it’s with great pride that we are able to finalise the process today,” Mr Griffin said.

“This joint management agreement with the National parks and Wildlife Service is helping to protect cultural heritage, while forging partnerships between traditional owners and the NSW Government.

“Bulagaranda has immense cultural significance for the traditional owners. Handing it back means traditional owners have control of local decision-making, and ensures they can continue to have a physical and spiritual connection to their country.”

Bulagaranda (Mt Yarrowyck) Aboriginal Area is a 586 hectare site located about 30 kilometres west of Armidale, featuring important rock art.

As part of the land transfer, the name of the site was changed to Bulagaranda (Mt Yarrowyck) Aboriginal Area, in recognition of its heritage and importance to the Anaiwan and Armidale people.

Through this agreement, the Anaiwan and Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Councils hold the land on behalf of the registered Aboriginal owners, and will manage it in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
 

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said this is a historic agreement between  the Anaiwan People and the NSW Government, and has been a long time coming.

“I would like to acknowledge and celebrate the ongoing advocacy, resilience and perseverance of the Anaiwan people with the handback of Bulagaranda,” Mr Franklin said.

“Today is a triumphant one, where the community and those who worked so hard to achieve this can celebrate and reflect on their achievements for Bulagaranda being handed back to the traditional owners.”

Aboriginal owner Greg Livermore said the ceremony was a celebration of the return of country to the Aboriginal owners who are connected to Bulagaranda.

“I never thought when I was standing here in February 1983 when Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve was opened that I would come back here in April 2022 and have it returned to me as an Aboriginal owner.

“Bulagaranda, always was and always will be Aboriginal land.”

A board of management will be established for the park, with the majority of registered Aboriginal owners to be responsible.

The name Bulagaranda is derived from words in the Anaiwan language referring to the Turkey dreaming that is associated with the landscape in and surrounding the park.