Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery CentreExperience Indigenous Cultural HistoryJumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre located in the Southern Gateway Centre on the Princes Highway Bulli Tops overlooking the picturesque northern Illawarra coastline. This is a wonderful place to stop and relax a while when heading south out of Sydney down the coast.
Interactive Indigenous Cultural CentreThe Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre has finally come to fruition. A lot of years of work have gone into this cultural centre to become the first of its kind in Australia. It’s been a long time coming but now it is open many thanks should go to those who have persisted with the dream of connecting the cultures. “Jumbulla” means welcome in the Dharawal language, the language of the indigenous people who resided in the area between Botany Bay and the Shoalhaven River and west over the Escarpment. For the people who work here it’s more than a job – they are able to tell their peoples’ story and history. The centre’s theme is “come walk our footsteps” and focuses on the history and culture of the Indigenous people of the Illawarra and South Coast. You can learn about how aboriginal people lived and survived in time gone past and how they integrate into modern culture now. There are a number of different narrations using state-of-the-art glass screen interactive technologies to learn from and children are also well catered for with a cultural storyline specifically designed for them. There’s also opportunity to discover contemporary Indigenous history and art. Traveling to JumbullaGetting there is easy by heading south (45mins) out of Sydney on the Princes Hwy (F6 freeway). You can’t miss it! Just pull in when you come off the end of the Freeway and see the elevated views of the coast from atop the Illawarra Escarpment. It’s on the left? If you are driving from Wollongong make sure you take the Campbelltown exit and then the Helensburgh/Darkes Forrest exit. You will have to U-turn but you can do that at Sublime Point and check the clifftops vistas while you’re there and then drive the short distance back to the Centre. Its not far. Stay in the left lane ok? Coming from Appin and the west be sure to take the Helensbirgh/Darkes Forrest exits and do the same thing as if coming from the south. NOTE: There are no exits from the merge when coming from Appin Rd and the only turnaround is on Mt Ousley Pass at Mt Pleasant/Balgownie. Yep, it's a long way back around once you are in Balgownie or Wollongong. |
