Jubilee Rock in Bundanoon has officially been named a sacred site, the first in the Southern Highlands and the one hundredth in NSW.

Dignitaries and Aboriginal elders gathered at the Aboriginal Culture Centre in Mittagong for the official ceremony on Friday, February 20.

Gundungurra elder Aunty Val said Jubilee Rock was a beautiful place where you could feel that the Aboriginal people had been.

“Jubilee Rock is not just being kept for the Aboriginal people, but for all the people of the Wingecarribee,” she said.

“It makes my heart feel good to know you’re all here today.”

Goulburn MP Pru Goward was in attendance and said the NSW State Government was very happy to support the nomination of Jubilee Rock as a sacred site and was sure the Wingecarribee Shire Council would be enthusiastic supporters of maintaining it moving forward.

“This is a site well used by the elders and the Aboriginal community to teach traditional culture,” she said.

“People come from all over the world to see the oldest, continuous living culture.

“Despite the terrible things that have happened in the last 250 years, the culture is still here.”

Ms Goward also promised to continue to fight for funding to expand the Aboriginal Culture Centre.

The Aboriginal Place Program allows Aboriginal people to let the government know what sites are significant to them and Barrina South from the Office of Environment and Heritage said she hoped for more nominations.

“They get to say what is significant to them in their own words, which ensures we’re addressing gaps in the history of the state,” she said.

“Anyone can nominate a place and we’re really looking forward to more in this area and looking forward to declaring the two hundredth site in years to come.”

To nominate an Aboriginal site, contact Barrina South at barrina.south@environment.nsw.gov.au or call 6229 7096.