Aboriginal cultural tour guide

Tim Gray, tour guide at Barangaroo Aboriginal Cultural Tours

Australia’s true history surprises people

“Aboriginal history is only just starting to be told in schools, [which have] mainly focused on colonial history. It surprises people. It also upsets people in a way, particularly the older people that come to our tours – not because of what we’re talking about, but because they never knew about it. I’ve got 80 and 90 year olds saying, ‘Well why weren’t we taught this in school?’”

Sandstone is the foundation of Sydney, in more ways than one

“Anywhere you dig in Sydney you dig down to sandstone. The Gadigal people were known as saltwater-sandstone people, so the sandstone is really important to the way of life for Aboriginal people back then; things like carving, grinding food, grinding tools, and ochre.”

Some international tourists know more about the history than Australians do

“And some thought Aboriginal people were extinct. I’ve had six people in my life walk up to me and say sorry ‘for what my ancestors did to yours’. Only one of them was Australian, the rest were English, maybe because those convicts [who became Aussies] weren’t brought here willingly, so I think English people are still carrying guilt. I don’t expect anyone to say sorry to me, but they’ve chosen to do that.”

The internet is actually helping

“A lot of people think that the internet is a hindrance on our society, but I think it’s woken everyone up. There’s way more information accessible to us. If we’d had the internet back in the ’60s or ’50s I think we wouldn’t even need to be asking why is Australia Day this or that, because everyone would know and understand – but better late than never.”

Sharing stories is the way to heal Australia

“I think it’s important that we learn all of the history of Australia, particularly from 1788 onwards. It actually will act as a healing process for us as a nation. [Educating people is] the main reason why I love doing this job.” ■ Alannah Maher à www.barangaroo.com/see-and-do/things-to-do/tours/aboriginal-cultural-tours.