“You are the people telling the stories!” exclaimed Heritage Minister David Templeman as he addressed a packed hall earlier this month, at FACET’s (Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism) heritage tourism workshop.
More than 100 heritage and tourism practitioners gathered at the Fremantle Town Hall and online to hear speakers present on a range of cultural heritage experiences, and how drawing people into stories is key to heritage tourism experiences.
The keynote presentation on ‘Cultural Heritage Tourism in Action at the Ngarjarli Art Viewing Trail in Murujuga National Park’ shared the journey taken by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, with guidance and advice from the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, to create an accessible boardwalk trail that allows visitors to view and understand the importance of an array of rock art, estimated to be more than 45,000 years old.
Luke Donegan from Fremantle Prison provoked much thought and discussion by speaking about ‘Difficult Histories: Truth and Healing – How to present histories of human suffering with authenticity and compassion.’ A number of Western Australian historic sites are associated with painful histories, particularly for Aboriginal people. Luke discussed how the cultural heritage and cultural tourism sectors can use ‘sites of conscience’ to sensitively acknowledge and share these stories with the community.
Consistent with the emerging global trend in visitors seeking out authentic experiences to connect with their own and other cultures, the adaptive re-use of heritage places has been a clear winner in the heritage tourism sector. Workshop attendees were taken along the journey of four heritage places, finding new lives as bustling hospitality venues: Fremantle’s National Hotel, the Old Courthouse and Gage Roads in Victoria Quay as well as the Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra.
The workshop ended on a high note, with a networking sundowner on the rooftop of the National Hotel.
Print this page
