Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery

In the Swan Valley, half-an-hour from the centre of Perth, Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery offers an easily accessible and fascinating introduction to Aboriginal art, food and culture.

The gallery originally opened in the early 1990s as a modest boomerang and artefact shop showcasing local art before evolving into a specialist space dedicated to works by Noongar artists of the south-west. These works include landscapes painted in the world-famous Carrolup style, first practised by mission children of the stolen generation in the 1940s.

Maalinup – “Place of the Black Swan” – also began offering bushfoods about 20 years ago. That successful bush tuckerinspired range now includes dukkahs, herbs, spices and jams, as well as access to local knowledge on how to use them. Cultural activities include a Bush Tucker Talk and Tasting; an Ochre Hand Prints experience, in which guests learn about contemporary and traditional Aboriginal art and create their own artwork; and an experience called Local History and Culture, which introduces visitors to everything from kinship systems and marriage laws to the best way to cook a goanna (an Australian lizard). Maalinup also offers evening experiences and a Bush Tucker Experience at Mandoon Estate Vineyard.

Maalinup co-owner Dale Tilbrook, a Wardandi Bibbulmun woman, is passionate about Australian bush foods, and loves to share her knowledge about local tucker, where to find it and what to do with it. Dale reveals some remarkable insights into Aboriginal food traditions in this region, including details of how local groups used to practice agriculture, in the form of yam farms combined with sustainable hunting and gathering.

You’ll also learn about the six Noongar seasons, visit the bushfood garden and sample some superb local flavours, from kangaroo cooked with bush tomato, pepperberry, wattle seed and native basil, to sweet quandong jam tarts with cream.

Experiences

Cooinda Lodge Kakadu
A welcome in Noongar language followed by a very informative talk covering local Aboriginal history, traditional Aboriginal culture and food. Discover contemporary popular bushfoods and uses and enjoy a tasting.

Days Operating:    Daily on request
Season:                  Year round
Duration:                1.5 hours
Min Numbers:        4
Max Numbers:       30

Local History and Culture
Listen to a fascinating insight into local history, culture and stories. Learn about kinship systems and marriage laws. Handle the tools and weapons as you learn how they are made and used.

Days Operating:    Daily on request
Season:                  Year round
Duration:                1 hour
Min Numbers:        4
Max Numbers:       30

Ochre, Art and Handprints
Create your own piece of unique Aboriginal art to take home and frame. Learn about Aboriginal art, iconography and symbols used, and paints made from ochre.

Days Operating:    Daily on request
Season:                  Year round
Duration:                1 hour
Min Numbers:        4
Max Numbers:       30

Kedalak Keniny (Nighttime Corroboree)
Enjoy an evening Aboriginal dance and didgeridoo performance with a welcome by an elder, stories and canapes and a bush tucker 3-course dinner.

Days Operating:    Daily on request
Season:                  Year round
Duration:                3 hours
Min Numbers:        30
Max Numbers:       No Maximum

Bush Tucker Talk and Tasting at Mandoon Estate
Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery partners with Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia member Mandoon Estate, providing a Bush Tucker and Tasting followed by a 2-course lunch paired with award-winning beer and wine.

Contact Mandoon Estate for further details – events@mandoonestate.com.au

Getting there

30 minutes drive from Perth central business district

Contact details

Phone: +61 8 9296 0711
Email: manager@maalinup.com.au
Website: maalinup.com.au/