The spectacular new WA Museum in the Perth Cultural Centre has added an Aboriginal name - WA Museum Boola Bardip. Boola Bardip means 'many stories' in Noongar language.
The name recognises that the museum sits on Whadjuk Noongar land, and honours the cultural heritage of Australia's First Peoples. It also acknowledges the shared cultural heritage of the nearly 2.9 million people who call Western Australia home.
It is anticipated that there will be huge demand to visit, and so 50,000 free, timed tickets for the nine-day opening celebration events will be allocated from an online ballot, which opens today (September 7). To be among the first visitors to the new WA Museum Boola Bardip, people should register for the ballot on the museum's website at http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/ballot
The ballot will be open until the end of this month, closing on September 30. At that time, ticket holders will be randomly selected. Anyone without a computer or an email address can call 1300 134 081 to register.
Each successful applicant can request up to six tickets. These timed tickets will be allocated for the first nine days of opening, from Saturday November 21 until Sunday November 29.
During this special opening period visits will be restricted to two hours, to give as many people as possible a taste of the extraordinary stories and experiences on offer inside. The museum will move to regular hours and visitation from Monday November 30.
WA Museum Boola Bardip has been developed with a 'people first' approach and features the voices of Western Australians sharing their stories. It is a museum about WA - about our people, our places and our relationship with the world. It will be a gateway to the State, giving visitors a taste of everything WA has to offer.
Once inside, visitors will encounter WA's unique cultural and scientific collections. From the formation of the Universe to the latest inventions, from extinct dinosaurs to new species found nowhere else on the planet, Boola Bardip reminds us that WA is a place of wonder.
The name Boola Bardip was chosen in consultation with the WA Museum Aboriginal Advisory Committee and the museum's Whadjuk Content Working Group. It was translated and approved by the Noongar Boodjar Aboriginal Language Centre.
More than 50,000 people from across WA have contributed their thoughts to the development of Boola Bardip's exhibitions, programs and stories.
Designed by international architect consortium Hassell + OMA, and built by managing contractor Multiplex, WA Museum Boola Bardip will reopen on the same site the museum has occupied since it first began as a Geological Museum in the Old Perth Gaol in 1891.
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt:
"The name Boola Bardip recognises the significant role of Aboriginal people in our shared cultural heritage, both in name and in place. It also affirms that this museum belongs to all Western Australians, particularly Aboriginal communities, many of whom have contributed to its content.
"As visitors would expect, there is a gallery dedicated to the display of WA's Aboriginal cultural materials and experiences but, importantly, Aboriginal stories are woven throughout the whole museum, giving visitors multiple perspectives on the history and voices we all share.
"Boola Bardip will be a huge tourism attraction for Western Australia. I would encourage everyone who lives in WA to visit and learn more about our amazing State."
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"Boola Bardip is a museum about Western Australia and all of its people. It celebrates our shared stories and it is very fitting that it has an Aboriginal name that reflects that.
"Everyone should be excited about the opportunity to visit the new WA Museum Boola Bardip when it opens. We anticipate a huge demand to visit when it opens and so, for the first nine days, we are managing the numbers using a free ticket system. If you want to be among the first visitors through the doors, make sure you register your interest between now and September 30.
"Boola Bardip is a truly extraordinary experience for Western Australians of all ages. You won't get through everything in two hours, in fact you'll need more than a day. But you'll get a taste of what's on offer and you can plan your return visit to explore at your leisure."
Culture and the Arts Minister's office - 6552 5400
