Tjapukai Redevelopment Update and New Performances

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park has unveiled new Indigenous cultural experiences as it undergoes a $12 million transformation into a versatile all-weather venue.  Cutting edge theatre technology and open plan glass design to showcase the park's beautiful rainforest surrounds are among the highlights of the redevelopment due to open early 2015. Two state of the art theatre spaces, History and Hero's walk, restaurant and outdoor bar will complement the interactive Cultural Village. In addition to Aboriginal culture, Torres Strait Islander dance can now be experienced at the Tropical North Queensland cultural park with the launch of new performances. This wider cultural offering includes: 

Sea Breeze Spirit Dance Troupe“Sager Thei-um” The Torres Strait islands at the very top of Australia are the northern-most point of the Great Barrier Reef and home to a rich Melanesian-inspired Indigenous culture. Incorporating traditional drumming, the Dari headdress and colourful costumes, Tjapukai presents “Sager Thei-um”. Through song and dance you will learn about the cultural connection between the people, the land, the wind and the sea in an awe-inspiring performance by the Torres Strait Islander dance troupe.

Art of My People This performance takes guests on a journey into the varying styles of Australian Indigenous art explaining the role of totems, body painting traditions and the differing types of artistic expression used by the Bama, the people, to identify tribes, languages, dialects and geographical landscapes.  

Sugar Bag and Storywater Cafes A touch of Indigenous flavour has been added to the cafe and restaurant menus with the help of mentor, Samantha Martin the 'Bush Tukka Woman' who recently launched her new book on Indigenous super foods. The cafe now boasts delicious in-house smoked emu and crocodile, while the lunch BBQ features lemon myrtle infused mackerel and kangaroo burgers.

 Tjapukai Indigenous Chefs Raymond Wright and apprentice chef Ashley Farrell will take cultural food creation to a new level as they create unique Indigenous flavours infused with native spices and bush foods in preparation for the new restaurant opening in Dec 2014. Ashley has joined Tjapukai after completing his Master Class prevocational training under celebrity chef Mark Olive, known as The Black Olive.

First Aboriginal Designed Bus Stop Tjapukai artist Napoleon “Phillip” Oui has designed the first Indigenous inspired bus stop blade which was unveiled this week by Translink and Member for Barron River Michael Trout. Napoleon has been a cultural performer and artist at Tjapukai for 17 years and examples of his traditional geometrical shield paintings are on display in the Tjapukai Gallery.

Indigenous Sales Team Tjapukai boasts the highest national ratio of Indigenous employees in Australia. New additions to the Tjapukai Sales team are Saskia Wrobluskie - managing the MICE and Domestic Markets, Damian Ralphs - performer and local market executive and Troyson Bassani - education market and overseeing the US market under the guidance of Robbie Bastion from Parker Travel.