The Darwin Convention Centre has taken a significant step forward in its Reconciliation journey by renaming the venue’s Meeting Rooms with traditional Larrakia names.
The process of renaming Meeting Rooms 1,2,3 and 4, along with the outdoor Porte Cochere space, was carried out in consultation with Larrakia Elders, with stunning artwork for the signage created by talented Larrakia artist Jason Lee.
This momentous occasion coincided with the World Community Development Conference, making it the first conference to utilise the spaces since the unveiling of the new signage and names.
“We are delighted that guests can now enjoy this beautiful Larrakia artwork and language displayed at the Centre when attending a conference or event,” says Peter Savoff, General Manager of the Darwin Convention Centre.
“By embracing traditional names for these spaces, we take great pride in acknowledging and honouring the rich culture and heritage of the Larrakia people and sharing it with delegates visiting the venue,” he adds.
Senior Larrakia Elder, Aunty Bilawara Lee, also explains why the renaming of the Centre’s spaces is such a significant part of reconciliation.
“Many people only experience language as a tool for communication. For us [the Larrakia people], it is much more. To speak our language is to be one with our country and our ancestors. Language is medicine: it keeps us strong and helps us heal our country and our community. We want to share this with people who come to Darwin from other places. Our goal, then, is to establish a daily practice of using our language.
“With the Darwin Convention Centre supporting the Larrakia people in bringing this dream into reality, it demonstrates their commitment to reconciliation and respect for the Larrakia people, the Traditional Custodians of the land that the Convention Centre sits on.”
The Centre is proud to be part of a community that embraces its rich Indigenous history and culture. The renaming of our Centre’s meeting spaces is just one more step towards providing visitors a deeper connection to country and creating a vibrant space where language and culture can thrive.