Victoria's Aboriginal Tourism Development Plan 2006-2009

Appendix 3

Overview of Victoria's indigenous tourism industry

Employment

At March 2005, it was estimated that Victoria's indigenous Tourism sector directly employed the following numbers (excluding volunteer staff):

  • Full-time 49 people 50%
  • Part-time 30 people 31%
  • Casual 19 people 19%
  • Total 98 people 100%

Location

Although Victoria's inventory of indigenous tourism product is not extensive, it is relatively well dispersed geographically and many of the businesses are located such that they could potentially capitalise on established touring patterns.

A list of indigenous tourism product follows. More than half of the product is located within two hours of Melbourne and can be reached from the capital by major routes. Those businesses are denoted by an asterix (*).

Melbourne (5)
  • Koorie Heritage Trust, King Street, CBD*
  • Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanic Gardens*
  • Bunjilaka – Melbourne Museum*, Nicholson Street, Carlton
  • Tjanabi Restaurant*, Lygon Street, Carlton
  • Melbourne's Best Tours*, Prima Court, Tullumarine
South-western region (9)
  • Narana Creations, Geelong *
  • Wathaurong Glass, North Geelong*
  • Worn Gundidj, Tower Hill
  • Budj-bim Tours, Lake Condah
  • Yeerrathayarr Gallery, Port Fairy
  • Eumeralla Backpackers, Yambuk
  • Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre, Halls Gap
  • Brambuk Backpackers, Halls Gap
  • Ballarat Aboriginal Cultural Experience*
Northern region (2)
  • Dharnya Cultural Centre, Barmah
  • Bangerang Keeping Place, Shepparton
North-western region (3)
  • Jumbunna Walkabout Tours, Mildura
  • Miss Emily Aboriginal Art, Robinvale
  • Amurra Nunagum Dreaming Gallery, Mildura
Eastern region (4)
  • Bundjel Gallery, Healesville
  • Burrinja Gallery, Upwey*
  • Krowathunkaloong, Aboriginal Keeping Place, Bairnsdale
  • Mamajee Gallery, Cabbage Tree Creek

(NOTE: map of Vic, showing location of businesses, to be inserted here)

All of Victoria's indigenous tourism product falls within the definition of ‘cultural tourism'. A large percentage is engaged in the more traditional forms of public interpretation and/or presentation of visual arts. While many of these may provide more interactive programs during specified times, e.g. school holidays, group tours etc, there are relatively few operations that provide interactive experiences at all or most times.

Cultural product (11)
  • Koorie Heritage Trust
  • Bunjilaka – Melbourne Museum
  • Burrinja Gallery
  • Dharnya Cultural Centre
  • Bangerang Keeping Place
  • Krowathunkaloong
  • Mamajee Gallery
  • Narana Creations
  • Wathaurong Glass
  • Yeerathayarr Gallery
  • Amurra Nunagum Dreaming Gallery
Interactive/experiential (10)
  • Koorie Heritage Trust
  • Aboriginal Heritage Walk
  • Tjanabi Restaurant
  • Miss Emily Aboriginal Crafts (experience limited to studio visits only)
  • Melbourne's Best Tours
  • Ballarat Aboriginal Cultural Experience
  • Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre
  • Jumbunna Walkabout Tours
  • Budj-bim Tours
  • Worn Gundidj, Tower Hill
Accommodation (2)
  • Brambuk Backpackers, Halls Gap
  • Eumeralla Backpackers, Yambuk

Patronage

Many of Victoria's indigenous tourism operators do not collect patronage figures, making it difficult to obtain an overall impression of visitation to the State's Aboriginal tourism attractions. However, the eight businesses that do measure patronage reveal a large variation in visitor numbers that, in many cases, is reflective of both the size and location of the business, as well as reliance on the education market.

  1. Business 1 348
  2. Business 2 1,500
  3. Business 3 2,000
  4. Business 4 16,000
  5. Business 5 20,000
  6. Business 6 180,000
  7. Business 7 200,000
  8. Business 8 467,000