Melbourne Quarter has launched its annual program to honour and celebrate National Reconciliation Week – a significant week that commemorates our nation’s reconciliation journey.
Melbourne Quarter is a precinct bordered by two of Melbourne’s most iconic streets, Collins and Flinders, and is directly across from Southern Cross Station. The precinct offers a thriving food and drink scene, interesting laneways, local art and green public spaces. Retailers include Bluebag, Destination Roll, Da Barber, Fishbowl, Home Vegan Bar, Gilbert, Ngali, Peddler Espresso, Sergy Boy and Sushi Sushi.
From Monday 29 May, until Friday 2 June, the precinct located in Docklands is hosting an array of diverse and informative activations and events, both ticketed and free, to inspire and educate visitors on our First Nations talent.
Christopher Munn, Project Director, Melbourne Quarter said: “Our annual celebrations surrounding National Reconciliation Week are extremely important to Melbourne Quarter tenants, retailers, and visitors. We are privileged to display a host of First Nations talent in our precinct. We have a responsibility to listen, learn and walk alongside First Nations people to ensure our activities make their voices heard and support the continued connection to their lands, waters, cultures, languages, and traditions.”
Melbourne Quarter’s market pop up. Photo credit: Piers Fitton
Melbourne Quarter’s free activities throughout National Reconciliation Week include:
Market pop up
Located inside the One Melbourne Quarter lobby, the market pop up showcases products from prominent First Nations retailers. This includes Ilan Style Tea – a First nations 100% female-owned tea business, Ngali – Melbourne Quarter’s resident fashion retailer which will also feature fashion accessories from First Nations creatives Trina Dalton-Oogjes, Lorraine Brigdale and Ange Jeffery, and also Our Songlines, that offers beautifully curated hampers from a range of First Nations’ businesses.
Weaving workshops
Throughout the week, Melbourne Quarter will host three weaving workshops led by First Nations creatives: Ange Jeffery, Lorraine Brigdale, and Trina Dalton-Oogjes. Each workshop will explore the different applications of First Nations’ weaving: jewellery, basketmaking, and millinery.
Jewellery making
The workshop hosted by Ange Jeffery, a proud Wiradjuri artist demonstrates the importance of weaving to First Nations people and the creative journey to create unique pieces.
Live Music. Photo credit: Piers Fitton
Basket weaving
Lorraine Brigdale, a Yorta Yorta woman and award-winning artist hosts basket weaving, sharing her creative journey, and connection to her matriarchal ancestral line.
Millinery weaving
Trina Dalton-Oogjes, a Waddawarrung woman and multidisciplinary artist guides participants through the art of millinery weaving.
Lobby installation
The lobby in Two Melbourne Quarter has been transformed by a curated exhibition by Ngali, showcasing weaving pieces by First Nations creatives, Lorraine Brigale, Ange Jeffery and Trina Dalton-Oogjes. The pieces were recently shown as part of Ngali’s runway collection at the 2023 Afterpay Australian Fashion Week.
Art Mural in Gunpowder Walk
Melbourne Quarter’s laneway, Gunpowder Walk showcases a new mural by artist Alinta Koehrer. A young Woi-Worrung Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta woman, Koehler is a Melbourne-based Studio Arts Graduate and emerging designer.
A changing of the guard, last year Koehler’s mother and artist, Simone Thomson, had her art featured along Gunpowder Walk to celebrate National Reconciliation Week. The art mural is free activation and will be in place until late 2023.
Mural. Photo credit: Piers Fitton
First Nations beverages at Sergy Boy
Food retailer, Sergy Boy, is hosting a happy hour special on Thursday 1 June from 4pm until 7pm, featuring First Nations beverages from Jarrah Boy and Sobah Non-Alcoholic Beverages, as well as live music by DJ Kidd Benny.
Jarrah Boy hails from Queensland and is brewed on Kabi Kabi Country. Founder Dale Vocale is a proud Monera Ngarigo man from East Gippsland, Victoria. Jarrah Boy is made with Australian native ingredients and celebrates Indigenous excellence.
Established in 2017, Sobah is Australia’s first non-alcoholic craft beer company. Founder Dr Clinton Schultz is a proud Gamilaraay man from Queensland. Sobah Beverages specialise in a range of premium non-alcoholic craft beers infused with native fruit and spices.
