150,000th Visitor to Attend Blue Mountain’s Tourist Hot Spot ‘Waradah’

Located adjacent to the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park, home of Australia’s most popular tourist destination ‘The Three Sisters’ is the Waradah Aboriginal Centre which in just 18 months is about to welcome its 150,000 ^th visitor. 

Located in the World Heritage Plaza at Katoomba, Waradah offers authentic Aboriginal song and dance performances, dreamtime stories and authentic, quality paintings, arts and crafts. 

One of only two venues in Australia to offer daily dance and dreamtime story performances by Aboriginal people, and the only one in New South Wales. Waradah (formerly known as the Koomurri Aboriginal Centre) provides an exciting and rich cultural dimension to the national tourism industry which has far-reaching benefits to the local community, state and country, as well as providing tangible benefits to the various indigenous communities represented at the Centre. 

Waradah makes a significant contribution to various Aboriginal clans and communities by way of employment; the provision of a retail gallery space through which indigenous arts and crafts are showcased and sold, to both local and overseas visitors. The Centre provides an environment for the advancement of better relationships through workshops, performances and the promotion of Aboriginal culture and interests. 

“I am very proud of what we have created and are doing within the local community and for tourism generally”, said owner and CEO Farid Nayerhabibi. 

“We have Aboriginal people from all over Australia working at Waradah and sharing their respective cultures with visitors, business groups and school children. All of which helps foster better relations and understanding between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples”. 

Waradah offers a rich educational experience and has school children come through the centre each week. 

With two qualified teachers on staff, we are fortunate enough to be able to formulate and deliver strong programs that meet individual school and student needs. The NSW school curriculum has a stage 1 – 6 Indigenous Program covering classes from kindergarten to year 12. This element in the curriculum is designed to promote intellectual, social and moral development by enabling students to think critically about the historical and contemporary experiences of Aboriginal people.  

“The Waradah Centre was a wonderful experience.  There were several different educational packages to suit different needs. The stage four students loved the art, music and dance activities, but their favorite part was when they were taught about the culture”, said recent visitor to Waradah, Mrs Rathbone, a teacher at Cambridge Park High School. 

In addition to its school educational program, Waradah has seen a sharp increase in the number of businesses participating in the ‘corporate program’ it offers which provides a unique opportunity to develop team building exercises and initiatives through personal interaction with indigenous Australians.  The workshops afford participants a rare opportunity to hear dreamtime stories, learn about Aboriginal traditions, culture and ceremonies (not widely exposed to the general public) try their hand at Aboriginal painting, the didgeridoo and various dances. 

“Waradah helps create a better understanding of different cultures and how diverse the Aboriginal way of life is.  It brings the white and black together by promoting understanding about each other and showing that we’re not so different”, said lead performer Peter Williams. 

“Getting people to take part in the dancing takes them out of their comfort zone and they have a lot of fun and will always remember the experience.” 

At a time when Aboriginal people are high on the Federal Government’s agenda and the climate for acceptance – to the point of recognizing them in the country’s constitution – is bi-partisan in its appeal, Waradah stands as a shining and very successful example of what can be achieved in a collaborative environment between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. 

Mr Nayerhabibi has invested everything he has in the business and is proud of the fact that he has not had to rely on any government assistance. 

“Waradah Aboriginal Centre is proud to be a wholly owned and operated private enterprise that has never drawn any funding from either the state or federal governments. Our landlord, the Fivex Commercial Property  has been incredibly supportive of what we are trying to do in the Blue Mountains both financially and in helping us with our DAs.” 

“Our staff is eighty percent Indigenous, representing seven different clans.  Something we are very proud of and looking to build upon as the business grows.” 

“Without the support of the Darug Mountain people, the Gundungurra people and other Aboriginal elders, we would not be in a position to soon welcome our 150,000 ^th visitor.  An incredible achievement in such a short space of time.” 

Waradah Aboriginal Centre is located in the World Heritage Plaza, 33 – 37 Echo Point Road, Katoomba, a Fivex property.  The owners of Fivex have been staunch supporters of Mr Nayerhabibi and have spent considerable monies to help establish this Aboriginal cultural centre for the benefit of Australians and foreign visitors alike.  The Centre pumps an incredible amount of money into the local community and is fast becoming one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country.