Introducing Jellurgal Cultural Centre

With international borders closed, this is now the perfect opportunity to embrace Australia’s culture and explore our own backyard like we would if we were travelling overseas. The Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is an authentic, world-class experience and I wish we had visited sooner ....

Clack, Clack, Clack, Clack. The rhythm of the Bilmi sticks and the resounding echo from each beat as the sticks make contact is mesmerizing. After around 16 beats, Anthony begins singing a traditional goodbye song. It’s more of a chant really and the beautiful deep resonance of his voice in perfect time with the clapping sticks makes me feel a little emotional.

We have been on the Walkabout Tour at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre and now that the tour is finished, our guide Anthony is singing us a thank you and goodbye song. It is a truly wonderful experience and I close my eyes for a while so that I can hear it without distraction.

Ochre Painting on skin

Credit - Destination Gold Coast

The tour began at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, located at the renowned Burleigh Headland on the Gold Coast, right next door to the popular family swimming spot at Tallebudgera Creek. Anthony greeted us and it wasn’t long before we headed out on our guided walk around Jellurgal, the Aboriginal name for the Burleigh Heads National Park headland.

We set out on the popular ocean view track and Anthony engaged the kids with Dreamtime stories associated with the creation of Jellurgal. The kids loved one that featured a dolphin and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves with our feet in the shallows of Tallebudgera Creek.

Anthony showed us where to collect the ochre and we squatted down on the water’s edge to make paint in the palm of our hands by mixing the ochre with the ocean water. The kids chickened out having the ochre mixture spread on their own faces but happily spread it on their arms before washing it off in the water.

Making paint with ochre

Credit - Tourism & Events QLD

Ocean views of the famous Gold Coast skyline framed by pandanus on one side and the greenery of the Burleigh Heads headland on the other, I could see why this particular walk is loved by locals and visitors alike.

We heard of more Dreamtime stories and learnt facts about the traditional lives of the Yugambeh speaking people who have been here for thousands of years.

We spotted wildlife, found the geographical features told in the Dreamtime stories and just enjoyed the magic of the mountain that is Jellurgal.

The Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre with its beach side location provides a oneof-a-kind experience on the Gold Coast, whilst preserving, promoting and sharing the Aboriginal culture.

Aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek

Creek - Destination Gold Coast

Jellurgal offers three main tours in the Jellurgal Little Explorers, Jellurgal Walkabout and the Jellurgal Journey.

Jellurgal little explorers

Jellurgal Little Explorers is a new tour designed for kids and goes for around 1.5 hours. Children can explore the magic of the ‘’Dreaming Mountain’’, Jellurgal with an art workshop and guided walk and activities.

This tour runs through the school holidays and is perfect for primary school children aged from 5 - 12 years of age.

Kids will love meeting a traditional custodian and hearing the Dreamtime stories associated with Jellurgal. The tour includes an activity book for the kids to fill in on their walk which they get to take home at the end of the tour, along with the art they create in the art workshop.

An experience at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Credit - Tourism & Events QLD

Jellurgal walkabout

The Jellurgal Walkabout tour takes around two hours and is an engaging walking tour of the renowned Burleigh Headland. The tour starts with an audio/visual presentation followed by an Ochre Ceremony with ochre sourced from the mountain before heading out on a guided walk around the ‘’Dreaming Mountain’’, Jellurgal.

Visitors will meet a traditional custodian, hear the Dreamtime stories associated with the creation of Jellurgal and discover facts about traditional life.

A Dreamtime story by Tallebudgera Creek

Credit - Tourism & Events QLD

Jellurgal journey

The Jellurgal Journey is available for private group bookings with a minimum of four adults. Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with a guided tour followed by a live Aboriginal dance performance.

Learn about the Aboriginal history and culture of the Gold Coast, meet a traditional custodian and hear the local Dreamtime stories. The tour concludes in the Dreaming Amphitheatre where you will see Aboriginal dancers tell stories through song and movement.

Dancers in action

Credit - Tourism & Events QLD

For more info or to book A tour with the Jellurgal Cultural Centre, visit their website direct:

www.jellurgal.com.au