The centre will house visiting services, act as an information centre and referral service to Aboriginal and other agencies, and be a venue for arts, educational and other cultural activities.

At a flag raising ceremony yesterday, Mrs Mulcahy said the centre was the result of hard work and perseverance by the Aboriginal community of Wingecarribee Shire.

AT the bench where magistrates once presided over weighty legal matters, children played yesterday as the Bowral Courthouse re-opened as an Aboriginal Community Centre.

Tea and coffee were served from the clerk of the court’s bench as members of the Aboriginal community and supporters packed the public gallery for the official opening.

Closed since May, 2005, the heritage-listed courthouse will now house information and referral services, arts and crafts and computer courses and a visiting indigenous health brokerage service.

Aboriginal elder Val Mulcahy said the opening of the centre was a big day for Wingecarribee Shire’s indigenous community.

“It’s taken 14 years to get our centre,” she said.

“We were told 14 years ago it would never happen.

“But we have one, through hard work and perseverance and a lot of support from the Aboriginal community. It hasn’t been easy.”

The Aboriginal Community centre was made possible by a $20,387 grant from the Illawarra Area Assistance Scheme.

Wingecarribee Council’s Aboriginal advisory committee chairman Larry Whipper said by granting the lease of the courthouse to the Aboriginal community, the Attorney-General’s Department had recognised the work that they do.

“Do this place proud,” he told listeners. “Be proud - you have a lot to be proud of.”

Mrs Mulcahy said the Aboriginal community had use of the courthouse until October 31.

“”We’ll take that,” she said. “We’re very happy with the centre, but it’s only the start of it.

“We haven’t stopped yet and we hope that we’ll have a bigger centre one day.”

Members of the Aboriginal community gave a welcome to country on behalf of both the Gundangarra and D’harawal people.