Koorie Heritage Trust

Established in 1985, the Koorie Heritage Trust is a bold and innovative not-for-profit First Nations owned and managed arts and cultural organisation Located in the heart of Narrm (Melbourne), at Federation Square by the banks of Birrarung (River of Mists - Yarra River).

The Koorie Heritage Trust has a mandate to foster an understanding and appreciation of Victoria’s Aboriginal culture by providing opportunities for all people to learn, connect and re-connect with the living cultural heritage of Aboriginal Victoria, originating from a 60,000-year-old history. Our location at Federation Square is a recognition of our shared history and the importance of Koorie peoples as part of a broader 21st century community.

Our vision

To live in a society where Aboriginal culture and history are a fundamental part of Victorian life.

Our purpose

To promote, support and celebrate the continuing journey of the Aboriginal people of South Eastern Australia.

Our motto “GNOKAN DANNA MURRA KOR-KI”

Our motto groups two Koorie languages (Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta) and means “Give me your hand my friend”.

The clasped black and white hands in our logo represents Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people joining in goodwill and cooperation. The logo represents the “bridging of the cultural gap” and reflects our belief that through education and promotion, we can raise awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of Victorian Aboriginal culture and work towards the broader goal of reconciliation for all Australians.

Our values and commitment

Respect, Honesty, Reciprocity and Curiosity.

The Koorie Heritage Trust is committed to creating a safe space for all people to learn about and to help us promote, support and celebrate the continuing journey of the Aboriginal people of South Eastern Australia. As part of this commitment, the Koorie Heritage Trust recognises and is committed to implementing the Victorian Child Safe Standards to ensure child safety and wellbeing is embedded in all our programs and services.

Our programs and services

We offer a range of programs and services including:

• the only public collection in Victoria dedicated solely to Koorie art and culture comprising artefacts, pictures and photographs as well as a Oral History Program and a Reference Library;
• a cultural education service that includes guided walking tours, cultural competency training and programs developed specifically for schools and educators; an annual exhibition program with an emphasis on showcasing young and emerging Victorian Aboriginal art and artists;
• a Koorie Family History Service;
• a retail shop dedicated exclusively to showcasing the uniqueness of Victorian Aboriginal art and design.
• meeting rooms for hire with balcony access and views of the Yarra River and Federation Square.

We are endorsed as a deductible gift recipient and continue to receive generous funding support from bequests, private donors, trusts and foundations, and from government grants and corporate sponsorship.

Koorie/ Koori/ Gurri

Koorie/Koori/Gurri is a generic term used by contemporary Aboriginal people and communities of Victoria and Southern New South Wales to identify and differentiate themselves from Aboriginal groups from other parts of Australia. Aboriginal people and communities in Queensland refer to themselves as Murris, Nunga in South Australia and Nyoongar in southern Western Australia.

All images: Visit Victoria