A historic vote could start Tasmania's first handback of local government land to Palawa people

A small parcel of public parkland could be returned to Tasmanian Aboriginal community, if a vote from Hobart City Council passes on Monday.

For Sarah Wilcox, as a Palawa woman and general manager for the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, says she appreciates the "leadership" of Hobart City Council and is excited to see the vote occur on Monday. Source: NITV

Queen's Domain, northeast of Hobart's city centre, covers some 230 hectares.

From the hill, visitors can see views of the CBD, Kunanyi (Mt Wellington) and Timtumili Minanya (the River Derwent).

The hill's proximity to those landmarks makes it part of "a really significant cultural landscape", says Sarah Wilcox, general manager of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT).

"We have the responsibility and deep connection to care for that land," the Pakana woman told NITV.

"There's really special grasslands up there that need the cultural care of Aboriginal rangers - to be back on Country, healing and restoring that Country."

That could soon become a reality, with a new council proposal that could eventually see 4.9 hectares of the public parklands handed back to the local Aboriginal community.

It would be the first of its kind in the state's history.

The Queen's Domain site has "culturally significant grasslands" and views of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Source: supplied

The start of a longer handback process

A vote on the proposal at Hobart City Council's Monday meeting will not automatically handover the small parcel to the ALCT, but rather confirms that the council agrees with the handover "in principle".

That will give CEO Michael Stratton the authority to start a formal investigation - including the legal processes needed for land division.

Sarah says the vote has come after "years of conversation" about land return in Lutruwita/Tasmania.

The land council recently hosted a workshop with the City of Hobart, where "nearly every elected member was present at the workshop, and [had] overwhelmingly positive feedback about the proposal."

Sarah (Left) and Brooke Bourke (Right), Senior Executive Officer at ALCT, would want to develop what Aboriginal ranger work, cultural tourism and a cultural item "keeping place" could look like through community consultation. Source: Jillian Mundy /ALCT Credit: Jillian Mundy

Land management would be led by Aboriginal ranger groups under the proposal, which includes an assurance that the public would still have access.

Part of this vision is an Indigenous-owned and operated cultural centre, built sustainably to minimise negatively impacting the area's ecology, "making it an open, safe, and welcoming space for potential cultural tourism," said Sarah.

"So people can come together to learn about Palawa history, culture, our story."

Creating a "keeping place" for significant items

If the handback is successful, Sarah has a vision for another first for Tasmania: equipping the cultural centre to be a "keeping place" for culturally significant items.

"Here in Lutruwita, we do not have a keeping place for our sacred cultural items. They are all stored within museums, and that's not okay," she said.

"We need to have them back and and stored safely in the cultural custodianship of Aboriginal people, so that they're accessible for Aboriginal people to connect with their cultural items and their ancestors."

While other areas on the island have been suggested for such a keeping space, Sarah believes this spot in the Domain would make it "a landmark destination".

"Coming down from the middle of the city, weaving their way up through this beautiful landscape to a place where that they can experience Palawa culture."