A cultural hub and museum celebrating the heritage of the local Wonnarua Indigenous community will be established at Lovedale.
Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation (WNAC) has received a $6.279 million grant from the NSW Government to facilitate the development, which will be built on land provided by Hunter Valley tourism and hotel entrepreneur Dr Jerry Schwartz.
The Madoo Museum will house and showcase a rich collection of local Indigenous artefacts currently stored in various offices around the region.
In addition, the renowned Morrison Collection - including canoes, stone axes, clubs, spears, boomerangs and hundreds of other artefacts from the Hunter Valley - will be relocated from the Australian Museum to the dedicated local site on Wills Hill Road (near Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, which is owned by Dr Schwartz).
The cultural centre would include interactive participation through art shows, boomerang techniques, and a bush tucker cafe.
Dr Schwartz has been working with WNAC on the concept for about three years.
The corporation's CEO Laurie Perry said the museum will provide a great opportunity to share the history and stories of the Wonnarua people.
WNAC chairman Lee Hinton agreed: "It will showcase our culture and ingenuity, and will leave a lasting legacy for future generations," he said.
The grant, which came from the Department of Regional NSW, was announced by Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen on Tuesday.
Mr Johnsen said the project will give visitors the chance to experience the rich history and culture of the local Indigenous people, enhancing tourism capabilities for Pokolbin, Cessnock and the wider Hunter region, and will provide jobs in the local community.
Dr Schwartz welcomed the funding from the government and said the museum will help preserve the heritage of the Wonnarua people, provide an opportunity for the wider community to share and experience their culture, and will become a "focal point" for cultural tourism.
"We envisage that the museum and cultural centre will attract Indigenous, school and special interest groups to the region, and we will look to increase accommodation options at my Hunter Valley property to cater for them."
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent congratulated the stakeholders on receiving the grant, and said it was great to see their dream achieved.
"This centre will fill a massive gap in the local tourism market, it will be unique to the area," he said.
Dr Schwartz is also proposing to build a revolving art gallery to house works by Dan Hart at the Lovedale site.
