Join Weddin Landcare, Wiradjuri community members and experienced Aboriginal Cultural Heritage site identifier and project officer, Mike Nolan, for this special ‘Over the Fence’ field day to yarn about how to work with local Aboriginal people and organisations to identify and protect sites of Cultural significance on your property.
DATE: Thursday 22 October 2026
TIME: 9am – 3pm
VENUE: ‘Ochre Arch, 761 Goodes Lane, Pinnacle
Mike will talk about why it is critical that we protect these sites to preserve Culture on County, your rights as a landholder and the enrichment that can come from forming lasting relationships with local Aboriginal community members.
Hear from local farmers about their experience in having Cultural surveys conducted on their property and about the process of formally registering identified sites of significance.
The day will include a field trip to Ochre Arch – a natural arch in one of the creeks on the farm that was once used by local Aboriginal people as a source of ochre and is now registered in the NSW Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System.
Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Please wear long pants and sun protection and BYO water bottle.
This is a FREE event, but please register for catering purposes.Â
About Ochre Arch
Our hosts for the day will be Phillip and Jan Diprose, who own and manage ‘Ochre Arch’, which has been a family property since 1979 (through Phillip’s father) and was renamed after a natural ochre arch formation across one of the deep gullies. Phillip and Jan are dedicated Landcare volunteers and continue to deepen their connection with the land with their endeavours at Ochre Arch. They manage the farm in a low-input, regenerative way that is in-sync with the natural processes and also offer farm tours for visitors to the region. Â
About Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan is a Wiradjuri man with more than 30 years of cultural and natural resource management experience, together with family connections to Wiradjuri Country. Over that time he has identified Aboriginal sites, managed cultural values on the ground and led park operations across both New South Wales and the Northern Territory, working for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Central West Catchment Management Authority, Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Mike is currently working with Weddin Landcare and other Landcare groups across the Central West region on the Aboriginal Partnerships program and is looking forward to making connections with the local Wiradjuri community and establishing pathways for communication.
This initiative is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.