Concern is being expressed that the Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery centre at Bulli Tops may close because of unfavourable visitor numbers. On average this attracts just four people a day - compared to a flood of people visiting the adjacent visitor's centre and restaurant.
Perhaps the product being offered is not what interests the public. Entry costs $ 15 per adult and entitles them to a forty-five minute audio-visual display on Aboriginality in the Illawarra. Basically - they are paying for a history lesson !
Maybe now is a good time to go back to the drawing board and re-think what this centre if trying to achieve. Visitors visit a visitor's centre to find out what attractions an area offers. Remove the entry charge and Jumbulla will be crowded with people - and could be the stimulus for directing those same people to Aboriginal attractions in the Illawarra - if they existed.
And thats the point. We do not have such things as an Aboriginal cafe offering traditional food or even an Aboriginal museum filled with interesting artifacts - but the opportunity exists for our Aboriginal people to create an industry here - as has happened in other parts of Australia.
The cries of distress seem the prelude for a demand that the ratepayers of the Illawarra shell out to keep Jumbulla operating. Bulli Tops visitor's centre was badly planned and had massive cost over-runs, and it's place in the road system does not invite those from the south to stop and visit.
To be viable Jumbulla needs to recreate itself and find something to sell. Perhaps as an outlet for the Aboriginal art which has become popular in recent years - or perhaps as a directing point to newly created Aboriginal businesses in the Illawarra.
Whale watching tours ? We have some interesting gun emplacements here from the second world war - Time for creative Aboriginal minds to stop and think creatively.
What is certain that Jumbulla in it's present form is a failure. Now we all need to think outside the nine dots !
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