Everyday Heritage Symposium
Tour of the Binjareb Nature Reserve. Photo: Karrie-anne Kearing, Director/Traditional Owner
Located on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country, the Everyday Heritage and Difficult Legacies Symposium was hosted by the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth, 28 November–1 December 2024. GML Principal Nadia Iacono shares an overview.
Difficult and challenging forms of everyday heritage and history were explored ‘in place’ with visits to Bindjareb Noongar Country, the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison and New Norcia.
The week started with Boorloo Aboriginal Cultural Experiences leading a walk on Country through Kings Park, Perth. A tour of the Bindjareb Nature Reserve was hosted by Director and Traditional Owner of Bindjareb Park, Karrie-Anne Kearing.
The tour included the remains of the last fringe camp associated with Pinjarra and a visit to the area that commemorates the 1834 Pinjarra Massacre. This difficult history was presented to us by Bindjareb Noongar people who helped us understand how the experience of the massacre continues to shape relations in the area today.
Walk on Country through Kings Park, Perth.
Bindjareb Nature Reserve, site of the 1834 Pinjarra Massacre.
The symposium at UWA included talks and panel discussions led by keynote speakers Professor Laura McAtackney (University College Cork) and Dr Timo Ylimanu (University of Oulu). Over 90 participants from universities, and public and private sector organisations attended. GML Principal Christina Dyson presented on the LGBTIQA+ Heritage Study for the City of Yarra and talked to some of the challenges that were confronted during the project for the community and in the listing process. GML CEO Sharon Veale and Principal/Archaeologist Nadia Iacono were panel respondents in a session on Difficult Legacies and co-presented a paper on the everyday challenges and changes in heritage values and listings.
Following the symposium participants also attended a tour and workshop at Fremantle Prison. The workshop was focused on generating ideas towards the development of heritage techniques, tools and resources for refining existing practice and surfacing new forms of everyday heritage.
Panel discussion featuring GML Principal Dr Nadia Iacono and CEO Sharon Veale. Photo courtesy Constance Wyndham
Sincere thanks go to the University of Canberra team, led by Chief Investigator, Professor Tracy Ireland, with Senior Research Fellow, Dr Steve Brown, and Research Assistant, Sharpay Wu. To our hosts for the symposium, UWA, especially Professor Jane Lydon, Chief Investigator, and Research Assistant Naomi Preston for organising the Symposium and tours. To all those who participated in the discussions around the ideas of everyday heritage and the difficult legacies that we encounter and work with everyday we extend our thanks for their interest and generous contributions.
GML is a proud research partner in the Australian Research Council Everyday Heritage linkage project.
Principal Dr Christina Dyson presenting at the Everyday Heritage Symposium.