Conference tours
Preserving Cultural Heritage in An Urban Environment: free Aboriginal heritage sites tour
The ACT Government is offering a pre- or post-conference heritage tour highlighting the integration of Aboriginal cultural values with the development of Canberra.
Evidence of traditional culture is present across the whole ACT landscape. Numerous significant sites – burial places, rock shelters, ceremonial grounds, scarred trees, grinding grooves, and quarries – are preserved in parks and reserves.
On the tours you will hear different perspectives on the challenges of preserving and promoting Aboriginal heritage in the midst of rapidly developing suburbia. Dave Johnston (Aboriginal Archaeologist), Michael Pearson (Chair ACT Heritage Council) and a representative from the Land Development Agency will accompany the tour and share their knowledge.
Select the tour on your registration form or sign up at the conference registration desk.
For more about Aboriginal heritage in the ACT see:
- http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/parks_conservation_and_lands/heritage
and - http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/aboriginal_heritage_in_the_act
Tour information
- Monday 28 September This tour is FULL - no more seats available for this tour
Depart 1.30pm Return 5.00pm - Friday 2 October
Depart: 9.30am Return: 1.00pm
Pickup and return will be from AIATSIS, Lawson Crescent, ACTON
The tour will begin at Mt Ainslie Lookout – the starting point for Canberra Tracks, a series of self-drive heritage trails. The tour will then travel north to Gungahlin to see how an Aboriginal site, Red Hill Ochre Quarry, is being preserved in the midst of a rapidly expanding city. Next the tour will visit Girrawah Park in the nearby suburb of Ngunnawal, where a stone procurement site has been kept to the satisfaction of the local community and developers. The tour finishes with refreshments at the Gold Creek Tourist Village.
While there will not be a lot of walking, please wear sturdy footwear.
Bus seats are limited, so do book early. Refreshments will be provided and for catering purposes, please register your attendance.
ENQUIRIES and BOOKINGS:
Phone: +61 2 6261 4221 or +61 2 6246 1144
Email: conference2009@aiatsis.gov.au
This tour is free to AIATSIS conference delegates, thanks to the ACT Government.
