Boomanulla Oval, located in Narrabundah, Canberra, is moving closer to Indigenous ownership, a decade after the ACT government first pledged its return to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The handover was a Labor election promise in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Recently, a new committee met to discuss overseeing the transition process.

Established in the 1980s and named after a 1940s rugby league player nicknamed Boomanulla, the oval holds deep cultural and sporting significance. Committee co-chair Kim Davison described it as "more than an oval, it's a cultural and sporting centre," emphasizing its importance beyond just a sports field. Ngunnawal Elder Caroline Hughes, also on the committee, highlighted that Boomanulla Oval has always been a meeting place and a site of deep significance for Ngunnawal people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Davison noted that the oval was the first asset handed over to the Aboriginal community in the ACT. Previously, the Aboriginal Corporation for Sport and Recreation Activities (ACSRA) managed the oval until financial difficulties led to its closure.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry stated the government was not opposed to the handover, recognizing the oval as a special site for Indigenous people in the ACT.

"Some people might see it as just a sports field, but it's much more than that. You can hear that from the stories people tell and their close connection to that place," said a community representative.

This transition marks a significant step in honoring Indigenous connections to land and fulfilling longstanding government commitments.

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