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Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct

Explore the rich history and culture of the Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the Ballarat region. The Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct is an opportunity to connect with Wadawurrung traditions and stories that have shaped Ballarat through generations
Outdoor art installation featuring three colorful glass lanterns hanging from white, branch-like structures and a square painting depicting a village or landscape on a clear stand, surrounded by greenery.

Explore the rich history and culture of the Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the Ballarat region. The Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct is an opportunity to connect with Wadawurrung traditions and stories that have shaped Ballarat through generations—before, during, and after the gold rush, continuing into today and beyond.

Five Wadawurrung artists - Aunty Marlene Gilson, Dr. Deanne Gilson, Tammy Gilson, Kait James, and Lynette Fagan - have been commissioned to create sculptures that reflect the profound impact of colonisation, while celebrating the enduring connections to land, culture, and the future.

These works stand as powerful expressions of resilience and continuity, honouring the past while looking forward.

Kim-barne Wadawurrung Tabayl (Welcome to Wadawurrung Country)

We honour the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and future.

We acknowledge their continuing connection to Country - to land, waterways, sky, plants, animals, and to ancestors and cultural knowledge that has been shared across generations.

As you engage with these artworks, we invite you to reflect on the enduring relationship between people, culture, and Country.

Aunty Marlene Gilson OAM

Aunty Marlene Gilson is a Wadawarrung Elder and visual artist known for her paintings. She resides on Wadawurrung Country in Gordon, near Ballarat. 

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Marlene Gilson standing next to a large painted canvas depicting a village or landscape, displayed outdoors on a stand in a park setting.

Dr Deanne Gilson

Deanne Gilson is a proud Wadawurrung woman, multidisciplinary visual artist, and Blak designer.

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A woman in a dark jacket and patterned skirt standing next to a tree with bird sculptures attached to its branches, in an outdoor setting with a circular rock border and trees in the background.

Tammy Gilson

Tammy Gilson is a proud Wadawurrung woman and award-winning weaver, and member of the Koorie Heritage Trust's Blak Design project.

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A woman with long brown hair, wearing a dark blazer and a necklace with feathers, standing in front of a pond with a submerged sculpture and buildings in the background.

Kait James

Kait James is a proud Wadawurrung woman and award-winning contemporary artist. Known for her love of textiles and bold colours, Kait creates intricate embroideries using kitsch found materials.

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A woman with curly blonde hair, wearing a black dress, standing in front of a colorful vertical stick installation in a wooded area with tall trees.

Lynette Fagan

Lynette Fagan is a proud Wadawurrung woman and self-made multidisciplinary Aboriginal Artist.

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A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a blue patterned top smiles at the camera, with a pond, trees, and a black metal crane sculpture in the background.

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