This year, the vibrant Quandamooka Festival will be an extra special event for locals and visitors alike – as it coincides with the much-anticipated opening of QUAMPI, the Quandamooka Arts and Cultural Centre.
Held across the weekend of September 13th and 14th, the Festival is a powerful celebration of culture, connection and Country, set on the stunning island of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
Free to attend, the 2025 multi-artform Festival will feature an exciting program of Kunjiel (corroboree/traditional dance), live music, visual arts, weaving, bush foods, markets, storytelling, workshops and panel discussions, all set against the spectacular backdrop of Quandamooka Country.
The Festival, led by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) in partnership with the Queensland Music Festival (QMF) and with the support of Tourism Events Queensland, will give people of all ages the opportunity to experience the continuing culture of the Ngugi, Nunukul, and Goenpul peoples of Quandamooka first-hand.
“The Quandamooka Festival is one of the annual highlights for our community, as we come together to celebrate and share our culture through performing and visual arts. This year’s event is extra special with the opening of QUAMPI, a testament to the vision and resilience of the Quandamooka community,” QYAC Chair Cameron Costello explained.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with QMF in 2025 and also to see the Quandamooka Festival become a part of the Qld Music Trails in future years.”
QYAC will proudly lead the Festival, with QMF providing programming and production support on the mainstage as part of a broader collaboration to help bring this significant regional event to life.
“We’re honoured to be partnering with QYAC to support the 2025 Quandamooka Festival, and equally proud that this marks the beginning of a three-year commitment to help deliver even more events in the years ahead,” QMF CEO Daryl Raven said.
“It’s a privilege to play a supporting role in this powerful celebration of culture and Country, led by the Quandamooka People. This partnership reflects QMF’s ongoing commitment to uplifting First Nations voices and working alongside communities across regional and remote Queensland to platform their stories, creativity, and leadership.”
The Festival will be held as the new QUAMPI centre opens its doors, marking a significant milestone in the celebration of the rich arts and culture of the Quandamooka people.
The name QUAMPI, inspired by the traditional local oyster and its pearl shell, reflects a cherished part of the Quandamooka heritage and is tipped to attract both Australian and international visitors, offering an immersive experience into the vibrant heritage of the Quandamooka community.
QUAMPI will feature a Regional-standard gallery, gift shop, café and function and events space, a talking circle and Elders space, whilst also hosting local and international First Nations artists to exhibit their works. It will be open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-September 2025.
Designed through a collaborative effort between the Quandamooka community and the acclaimed architecture firm Cox, QUAMPI, integrates elements of the land and sea—rammed earth, shells, and native timbers – symbolising the deep connection to the environment that has sustained the Quandamooka people for thousands of years.
QUAMPI is a key deliverable of the Queensland Government’s Minjerribah Futures program, transitioning the island from sand mining, creating new jobs, boosting the local economy and acting as a major drawcard for eco-tourism.
Visitors wanting to stay on the island for the weekend of the Festival, can check-out Minjerribah Camping, which offers beachfront campsites as well as various ‘glamping’ options.
For more information, contact info@minjerribahcamping.net.au or call (07) 3059 4042.
QUAMPI Arts & Culture Centre
14 – 18 Ballow Road, Dunwich,
North Stradbroke Island, QLD 4183
quandamookafestival.com.au
