Arabic version: اللجنة تمهّد لإعادة ملعب بومانولا إلى سيطرة السكان الأصليين
A committee has been formed to oversee the planned transition of Boomanulla Oval in Narrabundah back to Indigenous community control, a decade after the ACT government first promised the handback.
According to ABC News, the interim management group has met to discuss the transfer, has promised to consult the public and to honour existing sporting commitments, and is working towards a transfer in 2027.
The oval was established in the 1980s and its lease was granted to the Indigenous community in 1984 by Charlie Perkins. It was run by the Aboriginal Corporation for Sport and Recreation Activities until financial difficulties forced its closure and responsibility for the site returned to government, which later renovated and maintained the facility. The ground was named after an Indigenous rugby league player of the 1940s whose nickname was Boomanulla, meaning speed and lightning.
Committee co-chair Kim Davison described the site as more than a sports field, saying: “It’s more than an oval, it’s a cultural and sporting centre.” Ngunnawal Elder Caroline Hughes called the oval “a place of deep significance for Ngunnawal people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” Sport and Recreation Minister Yvette Berry said the government was not opposed to the handover and acknowledged that “it has taken a long time” to reach this milestone.
Why this matters: Boomanulla Oval has hosted sporting events, football and cricket teams, NAIDOC celebrations, mentoring programs, funerals and weddings, and was marked as the first asset handed to the Aboriginal community in the ACT. Control of the site has symbolic and practical importance for local Indigenous communities who have sought a return of ownership across multiple election promises in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
What happens next: under the government’s agreement with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, a plan for the future use of the site could be put before cabinet for approval by the end of the year as the committee continues its consultative work towards a 2027 transfer.
Related sections: Australia/استراليا | Australian Capital Territory | General | Social/إجتماعية
