Gundungurra joint management program

Many parks and reserves in the Blue Mountains region are located on the ‘Ngurra’ (meaning Country) of the Gundungurra People. Ngurra means much more to Gundungurra traditional custodians than simply living on Country. It means remaining on Gundungurra Ngurra in a physical, cultural, economic and spiritual sense, from birth until death, and beyond.

From the ‘Gunyung-galung’ past times known as ‘The Dreaming’, Gundungurra people have lived on, cared for and held a physical and spiritual relationship with their Ngurra.

Protecting Ngurra

The Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) aims to improve protection for Gundungurra Peoples’ sacred and ongoing connection with Country. It was signed in 2014 by the NSW Government, Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation (GTCAC) and Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association Incorporated (GAHAI). 

The Gundungurra ILUA covers 6942 square kilometres of Country and 23 parks and reserves where NPWS and Gundungurra People work together to identify, manage and protect cultural sites and values.

Program benefits

Aboriginal joint management of Ngurra under the Gundungurra ILUA benefits local communities and Country in many ways, such as:

• providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal-owned businesses,
• education at local schools through bush tucker gardens and Gundungurra language lessons,
• detailed community-focused archaeological recordings for important Aboriginal cultural sites,
• knowledge sharing through ‘Connecting with Country’ programs and
• meaningful Aboriginal community consultation and engagement.

Community projects

GAHAI have implemented some great initiatives to strengthen the community’s connection with their Ngurra. 

Dreamtime stories 

A lot of the Gundungurra ILUA work is connected to Dreamtime stories like ‘The Journey of Gurangatch and Mirrigan’ which forms a significant part of the cultural landscape. The Gundungurra People have also developed story books about culture and language for schools and the wider community.

Culture camps

The Gundungurra People host annual culture camps across the Blue Mountains. 

The Bunburang Ancestral Pathways Walk

The 7-day walk was a cultural immersion experience developed by Gundungurra Heritage Association and ran yearly from 2013 to 2019. The walk guided people over 60km of traditional ancestral pathways across the Blue Mountains from Megalong Valley in the west to the Nepean River in the east. 

Visits to sacred sites during the walk strengthened spiritual connections with the land and the ongoing presence of Aboriginal people in the area. Rich in Aboriginal culture, the walk encouraged people to slow down and connect with where they live. The aim was to provide them with a new experience of walking on Country and see traces of ancestors who lived and travelled before them. It was a reminder that Gundungurra People have called the Blue Mountains home for countless generations. 

Mullyang Bushcare Group

In 2021, Gundungurra Heritage Association and NPWS formed Mullyang Bushcare Group at Guula Ngurra National Park. Volunteers meet every third Saturday of the month from March to November to care for Country. This includes work to repair existing gardens, establish new ones, restore dams and join community plantings for the restoration and regeneration of koala habitat. 

It's a leading example of communities coming together to achieve improved outcomes on Country through Aboriginal joint management and establishing strong local connections that promotes knowledge sharing and inclusiveness of culture.