The Yuin people and other community members have marked 20 years since Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks were formally handed back, celebrating two decades of Aboriginal ownership, joint management and cultural leadership on the NSW far south coast.
The milestone has been celebrated during National Reconciliation Week with a cultural festival at Tilba Oval, attended by members of the Biamanga and Gulaga Boards of Management, NPWS staff, school groups, community members and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland. The festival featured a smoking ceremony, performances by the Yuin Choir and Aboriginal dancers, as well as weaving and panel discussions.
Spanning more than 18,000 hectares, Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks have been jointly managed by the Boards of Management and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) since May 2006.
Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Yuin people. Biamanga, also known as Mumbulla Mountain, is a sacred men's ceremonial place, while Gulaga, known as Mother Mountain, holds particular significance for Aboriginal women. Together, these landscapes embody thousands of years of cultural knowledge, ceremony and story.
Over the past 20 years, the formal recognition and joint management has delivered meaningful outcomes for community and conservation, including strengthening decision-making, protecting significant sites and maintaining cultural fire and land management practices.
NPWS and the Gulaga and Biamanga Boards employ Aboriginal rangers, field officers and administrative staff, and create meaningful employment, training and leadership opportunities.
Biamanga and Gulaga are among 35 joint management arrangements across NSW national parks that recognise Aboriginal responsibility for caring for Country and support participation in park planning, protection and decision-making.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Penny Sharpe, said:
"Joint management is about walking together, respecting the deep cultural knowledge of Yuin people and ensuring it guides how we care for these extraordinary cultural landscapes.
"For 20 years, National Parks has worked in genuine partnership with the Boards of Management to protect what matters most - cultural heritage, natural values and the stories that connect community to Country.
"This anniversary is not just a celebration of a milestone, but a recognition of the strength of shared decision-making and the enduring custodianship of Yuin people."
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris, said:
"Twenty years since the handback of Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks is a powerful milestone for the Yuin people and NSW.
"The Yuin people's profound connection to the Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks cannot be understated.
"This anniversary recognises that enduring connection and the leadership traditional owners continue to show in caring for these deeply significant places."
Member for Bega, Doctor Michael Holland, said:
"Biamanga and Gulaga stand as places of profound cultural, spiritual and environmental importance for the Yuin people and communities across the far south coast. Marking 20 years since their return to Aboriginal ownership is a powerful reminder of the strength of partnership, respect and shared responsibility.
"Today we acknowledge and thank the Traditional Owners, Elders, Board members, rangers and community who have guided the care of these remarkable landscapes, ensuring culture, knowledge and connection to Country continue to be honoured and passed on to future generations."
Bunja Smith, Chair, Biamanga Board of Management, said:
"The past two decades of joint management at Biamanga show what is possible when Aboriginal owners and NPWS walk together with respect and trust. It has created real opportunities for cultural practice, employment and leadership, while keeping these special places open, cared for and shared with everyone."
Ros Field, Chair, Gulaga Board of Management, said:
"Reaching 20 years of joint management at Gulaga National Park is a powerful acknowledgement of Yuin people's responsibility to care for Country. This partnership has strengthened our cultural authority and ensured that decisions are guided by knowledge passed down through generations, for the benefit of Country and the wider community."
