The permanent exhibition ‘Boorp Boorp Boondyil – Passing Knowledge to our Children’ in Castlemaine shares important cultural knowledge.

Aunty Lyn Warren interacting with one of the touch panels to read the story she shared. Photo by Liz Thompson.
Aunty Lyn Warren interacting with one of the touch panels to read the story she shared. Photo by Liz Thompson.

The exhibition, Boorp Boorp Boondyil – Passing Knowledge to our Children, is the result of a decade-long community based project led by Senior Jaara Cultural Custodians Uncle Brien Nelson and his son Uncle Rick Nelson. The exhibition shares stories and cultural knowledge from Jaara Country.

The exhibition was launched in partnership with the Jaara Community and Mount Alexander Shire Council in 2022 and is now a permanent attraction in the Market Building alongside the Visitor Centre in Castlemaine, Victoria. Around 150,000 visitors pass through the Market Building each year and it is anticipated the exhibition will significantly increase visitor numbers to the region.

Boorp Boorp Boondyil has been curated and designed with the community and includes interactive content exploring and sharing knowledge relating to Country, culture and community.

Much of the content was created through a series of Sharing Stories Digital Storytelling Programs with community partners, Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and St Peters Primary School. Young people interpreted important cultural knowledge shared by Uncle Brien Nelson, Uncle Rick Nelson, Aunty Julie McHale and Aunty Bambi Lees.

Original artwork, animations and soundscapes were created in response to the story of ‘The Eagle, the Crow and the Bat’, an important story and teaching passed down through the Nelson family.

The exhibition received support through the Indigenous Languages and Arts Program and aligns with the Australian Government’s commitment to the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

Photo: Aunty Lyn Warren. Photo by Liz Thompson.