Harvey Aboriginal Corporation celebrates as Boola Bidi Dreaming Centre officially opens to general public

After much anticipation, Harvey’s new home for Aboriginal culture has finally opened. The former Harvey Visitors Centre building was reopened as the Boola Bidi Dreaming Centre on Thursday, with dozens gathering at the James Stirling Place location for the official opening. Boola Bidi is set to be the town’s new heart for Indigenous culture, serving as a base for the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation and the starting point for its guided tours along the Harvey River. One of the new centre’s highlights is an exhibit of posters highlighting NAIDOC Week, with some pieces going back more than 50 years. An interpretation of a chandelier hangs in the centre of the building, combining a marri tree branch with dozens of honky nuts with glass-style leaves and flowers. Boola Bidi opened after the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation was granted a two-year lease on the building by the Shire of Harvey in June. Prior to Boola Bidi lease, the building had been vacant since the town’s visitors centre closed its doors in November 2021. At one point the council considered demolishing it to expand the Stirling Gardens carpark. Back in July, manager Ninnette Comito said the centre was a long time coming. “People before me have been working on this for such a long time trying to get this up and going,” she said. “Finally to have a place to be in the visitor centre, it’s just amazing.”