Revised strategy focuses on region’s Aboriginal heritage

THE draft Wollongong Heritage Strategy 2023-2027, now on exhibition for comment, has been revised to include a stronger focus on Aboriginal Heritage.

Wollongong City Council says identifying, conserving, recording, and celebrating the region’s heritage is a key strategic goal.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the City of Wollongong is on Dharawal Country.

“One of the aspects of our history that we wanted to make clear in the draft Strategy is that Wollongong’s heritage is much more than just historical buildings. While architectural forms such as cemeteries, ocean pools, historic buildings and memorials are important, our heritage stretches beyond the European-centric lens,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Instead, our city’s heritage has been shaped by cultural and natural landscapes of importance to the local Aboriginal Community, which are now layered with shared heritage values such as agriculture, mining and military history.”

The draft Wollongong Heritage Strategy 2023-2027 was revised with the support of the Wollongong Heritage Reference Group. It contains nine broad strategies which align with the NSW Government’s Heritage Guidelines and has been updated to give a stronger focus to Aboriginal Heritage, the management of cultural landscapes and to capture Council’s work around climate change and management of the open coast.

“The goal of this strategy is to guide Council’s long term sustainable management of Wollongong’s shared cultural heritage. It will help us prioritise and deliver Council heritage programs and projects over the next few years,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Our community is diverse, and our shared history is nuanced and evolving. Our community is supportive of our vision to continue to value our natural environment. At the same time, we must carefully balance future needs by respecting our history.

“I encourage community members to take a look at the draft Strategy and share their feedback. How we conserve our city’s history is an important issue for all of us who call Wollongong home and we want to hear your thoughts.”

The draft Wollongong Heritage Strategy 2023-2027 will be on public exhibition until August 4 2023.

For more and information on how to comment on the revised Heritage Strategy visit the Wollongong City Council website, email Council, call Council’s Customer Service team on (02) 4227 7111 or write to Council via: Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500.

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