Land parcel at Beryl returned to Aboriginal community

The NSW Government has granted an Aboriginal land claim that will see a significant parcel of land located in the state’s Central West returned to the local Aboriginal community.

The Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council will take ownership of the 89-hectare parcel of land located within Beryl Reserve in the village of Beryl.

The ruggedly beautiful site is predominately made up of natural bush with a small river running through it. The site will be returned as freehold land to the Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council, who advise they will undertake important cultural assessment work at the site, and liaise with the Mid-Western Regional Council to determine its future use.

Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson Aleshia Lonsdale welcomed the grant approval.

“Up until recently this reserve has not been very accessible to us, so we are very keen to get out onto the land and record all the culturally important sites across all 89 hectares,” Ms Lonsdale said.

“We are really looking forward to being the custodians of such a large block of land. Our immediate plans for the site will be to protect and care for it in our traditional ways, ensuring the next generation can continue to practice culture and ceremony.” 

Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils have a right to lodge land claims on Crown land. 

Land claims must then be assessed against non-discretionary statutory criteria in the Act, including whether the land was lawfully used or occupied at the time of the claim, or was needed for an essential public purpose. 

The Act recognises the effects of past government decisions which resulted in the amount of land set aside for Aboriginal people progressively reduced without compensation, and created a system by which some unused Crown land could be returned to Aboriginal ownership. 

Crown Lands Executive Director of Aboriginal Land Strategy Michael Ramalli said future use of the land would be a matter for Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council. 

“This reserve in Beryl is a large parcel of land that will be cared for and protected by local Aboriginal groups for years to come,” Mr Ramalli said. 

“This is a great example of how community outcomes can be delivered through the realisation of Aboriginal land rights. The returning of land to local Aboriginal land councils helps support environmental, cultural, social and economic outcomes.”