Magic Lands Alliance

Connecting Story, Culture, and Community

Magic Lands Alliance (MLA) creates educational, cultural, and community initiatives that connect people to history, Country, and indigenous culture through film, research, storytelling, and collaboration.

Working alongside Indigenous Elders, First Nations communities, historians, educators, filmmakers, creatives, and community partners, MLA develops films, learning resources, research projects, and cultural experiences that create lasting impact beyond the screen.

Film is not the end goal — it is the engine that builds lasting cultural, educational and community outcomes.

Close-up of camera lens with focus rings and markings, including the word 'SUPER 16' and a serial number, on a camera body.

Project 1

Magic Lands

Ngarram – Where Two Worlds Collide

A historical drama feature film exploring William Buckley, Purranmurnin Tullawurnin, Wadawurrung Country, colonisation, survival, love, and the collision of two worlds in the early 1800s.

Highlights
10+ years development
6+ years First Nations collaboration
800+ educational articles
3 Short films completed
Feature film in pre-production
Long-term education and cultural legacy platform released early

[Explore Magic Lands: Ngarram]
[Support MLA]

Why MLA Exists

MLA exists to turn historical storytelling into long-term cultural, educational, and community outcomes. Each project begins with research and collaboration, then grows into films, education resources, cultural infrastructure, and community pathways.

Creating Lasting Impact

🪶 Culture

Protecting knowledge, preserving stories and supporting cultural continuity.

🎓 Education

Connecting people to Country, history, science and culture through accessible learning.

🤝 Community

Supporting employment, enterprise, tourism and long-term regional development.

🌿 Environment

Encouraging ecological understanding, sustainability and responsible stewardship of Country.

Be Part of Building Something That Lasts

🎬 Magic Lands: Ngarram
🤝 Contribute
🏛️ Sponsor & Partner
📚 Memberships
✉️ Contact

EDUCATION & TOURISM LEGACY

Learning Beyond the Screen

MLA transforms film script research and production design into educational resources, cultural experiences, and lasting community benefits.

Research Knowledge Platform

800+ Educational Articles

Indigenous Knowledge
Australian History
Frontier Wars and Conflict
Astronomy
Aquaculture
Science
Ecology
Geology
Plants & Animals
Language, Place Names & Culture
Advanced Research
Explore Articles

A black and white portrait of a woman with tribal jewelry and clothing, sitting against a plain background.

Historical black and white illustration of William Buckley, labeled as "The Wild White Man," wearing a suit and bow tie.

Historical painting depicting a scene with European settlers and Indigenous people near a river, with trees and open landscape in the background.

A painting of a scenic landscape with rolling hills, a river, trees, and a distant mountain under a partly cloudy sky.

Painting of a man with gray hair, blue eyes, wearing a dark coat and white shirt, against a dark background.

A shirtless man with an afro hairstyle sitting outdoors on a wooden chair, holding a staff in his right hand, with a small dog on his lap. The background includes trees and foliage.

A pencil sketch of William Buckley on a page, with the name written below and a faint circular stamp or seal.

A woman with curly hair holding a child, both looking to the side.

Historical black and white photograph of an indigenous man with a long white beard, wearing traditional attire including a headband, necklace, and grass skirt, holding a shield and a weapon.

Painting of an African savanna at sunset with acacia trees, large rocks, a small pond, and groups of people and children collecting water and tending animals.

A sketch of seven men in ethnic clothing, each wearing tall hats, some holding sticks or pipes, drawn around 1864, as labeled at the bottom. Painted and illustrated by Indigenous artist Tommy Mcrae

A line of marching soldiers holding flags, with a ship in the background. Painted and illustrated by Indigenous artist Tommy Mcrae

A historic pencil sketch of the Commandant's House in Melbourne from 1837, depicting a rural scene with people, animals, and trees.

Historical painting of Melbourne in 1841 showing green hills, a river, tents, and a few people walking on a path, with a hilly landscape and buildings in the distance under a cloudy sky.

Support Our Projects

MLA is built through collaboration, shared purpose, and community support.

Contributors, sponsors, philanthropists, and members help bring Magic Lands: Ngarram – Where Two Worlds Collide and future MLA initiatives to life while supporting lasting cultural, educational, and community outcomes.

Support contributes to:

• Education and cultural learning resources
• Indigenous knowledge sharing and cultural preservation
• Employment and enterprise opportunities
• Community, tourism and legacy initiatives

🤝 Explore Ways To Support

Shifting Truth

Meaningful truth-telling goes beyond film — it requires dialogue, education, and structural change.

MLA challenges dominant historical narratives by centring rigorous research, critical thinking, and voices long silenced. Through film and community-led engagement, we support a shared past — enabling individuals, institutions, and governments to acknowledge injustice and move toward truth, equality, and understanding.

Long-Term Purpose

Every project is built to inform, empower, and generate impact far beyond the screen.

Innovation

MLA uses emerging technologies, including AI, to expand research, storytelling, and access.

Always guided by ethics, cultural authority, and community control.

Short Films

MLA develops short films to support research, community collaboration, and project development before larger productions commence.

🎞️ View Short Films

Reconciliation

Our productions foster collaboration between First Nations and local communities where the story is set, bridging histories to create a shared, knowledgeable, and brighter future for all.

Indigenous-Led Collaboration

First Nations custodians and communities are partners in every project. From research to production, their leadership ensures cultural authority, integrity, and respect — with all outcomes designed to return lasting value to communities.

Painting of Melbourne 1841 depicting a rural landscape with tents, a river, and rolling hills in the background.

Research Videos & Content

As part of our film development for our film projects, we travel, research, and document the process through video content that educates audiences and shares the stories, history, and people encountered along the way.

Research Videos

Community Support & Partners

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Members, Artists and Traditional Owners

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, Artists and Members

Boonwurrung Sea and Land Council Traditional Owners and Members

Eastern Maar Community Traditional Owners and Members

Gudjitmara Community Traditional Owners and Members

Yorta Yorta Community Members and Traditional Owners

Torres Strait Island Community Members and Traditional Owners

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners and Members

Taungurung Traditional Owners and Community Members

Steiglitz Community Members

Mount Rothwell Conservation and Reserve

Barwon Coast Council

City of Greater Geelong

Surf Riders Foundation Australia - Torquay

Ron Ellis and the Granites Property, Anakie.

Golden Plains Shire Council

Parks Victoria

Bass Coast Council

Australian Marine Conservation Society