In the Perth metropolitan area, Maalinup - meaning "place of the black swan" in the Aboriginal Bibbulmun language - is the only indigenous art gallery and gift shop that is both Aboriginal-owned and Aboriginal-operated.
- Maali is the Bibbulmun word for the black swan, alternatively known as kuljack.
Maalinup's Aboriginal products, art items and giftware, including real returning boomerangs and a signature range of hand-painted glassware, are sold not only in its own gallery at The River Retreat in Henley Brook, just 30 minutes from Perth city centre, but in numerous other galleries and shops throughout Australia.
Boomerangs and digeridoos
Its boomerangs, crafted at its Maali Mia ("home of the black swan") workshop, were the only boomerangs to receive the endorsement of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games inclusion in the Olympic Millennium collection of Indigenous Arts and Crafts.
Also produced at the Maali Mia workshop are authentic hand-painted Aboriginal didgeridoos, traditional clapping sticks, carved emu eggs. Boomerang-throwing demonstrations are available.
South West art
The Maalinup gallery specialises in Aboriginal art of South West, a region in Western Australia which extends from Mandurah to Albany and inland from the coast to towns such as Merredin.
The River Retreat
Maalinup is located in The River Retreat, 10070 West Swan Rd, Henley Brook, which is in the heart of the Swan Valley.
It is an easy drive from Perth city centre, about 30 minutes via Guildford.
The River Retreat complex houses not only Maalinup, but also six self-contained four-star cottages, farm animals, and other facilities and such as games rooms and swimming pool. An evening of entertainment called Didge After Dark is held at The River Retreat and features bush tucker barbecue and Aboriginal dancers.
Opening hours
Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery is open from 10am to 5pm everyday except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday.
