“This is a story my father told me. It’s hugely important to pass it on to our children, and our children’s children” – Dja Dja Wurrung Elder, Uncle Rick Nelson.

A new permanent exhibition sharing the historical and contemporary stories and teachings of the local Jaara People (Traditional Owners) of the area known as Mount Alexander Shire opened at the historic Castlemaine Market Building in Moyston St Castlemaine in October 2022.

The exhibition Boorp Boorp Boondyil (passing knowledge to our children) is a name gifted to the project by local Dja Dja Wurrung senior Elder Uncle Rick Nelson. It is pronounced ‘Boorp’ as in ‘torpedo’ and ‘Boondyil’ as in ‘book’.

This permanent exhibit will provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to walk through an interactive space, where they will learn the history of the area, including the story of the Eagle, the Bat and the Crow, the Creation Story of the Dja Dja Wurrung in the Mount Alexander region, as told by the Nelson family. The exhibition also includes important cultural lessons about living on Country and bush foods, medicine, waterways and weaving.

It will also welcome visitors to Jaara Country and serve as a starting point for learning more about the rich history of this land’s traditional custodians. [Source Council website]