Magic Lands Alliance
Connecting Story, Culture, and Community
A cultural initiative to transform historical storytelling into a lasting cultural legacy through film, education, and permanent cultural infrastructure that honours First Nations knowledge, celebrates Australia's shared history, and strengthens communities for future generations.
Film is the engine.
Lasting cultural, educational, and community impact is the purpose.
VISION
Our vision is not simply to tell Australia’s history and its Indigenous history collaboratively, but to ensure these stories, cultures, and knowledge are carried forward — strengthening communities, educating future generations, and creating lasting social and economic impact.
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.
How it Works
RESEARCH
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FIRST NATIONS COLLABORATION
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FILM & STORYTELLING
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EDUCATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
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COMMUNITY LEGACY
Film is the catalyst. Legacy is the purpose.
MLA transforms historical research and cultural collaboration into screen projects, educational knowledge, cultural infrastructure and community opportunities designed to continue long after production.
Creating Lasting Impact
Magic Lands Alliance uses storytelling as a catalyst for lasting cultural, educational, environmental and community outcomes.
🪶 Culture
Supporting First Nations collaboration, cultural knowledge, truth-telling, heritage and the preservation of stories for future generations.
🎓 Education
Transforming research and storytelling into accessible learning across schools, universities, communities and digital platforms.
🤝 Community
Creating opportunities for employment, enterprise, regional tourism, local partnerships and lasting community infrastructure.
🌿 Country & Environment
Connecting cultural knowledge with ecology, environmental education and responsible stewardship of Country.
Explore Our Impact →
Project 1
Magic Lands
Ngarram – Where Two Worlds Collide
In early 1800's, southern Australia, an escaped convict and a Wadawurrung woman, bound by love and Lore, fight to survive as colonisation ignites a silent war.
Culture Initiative Snapshot
10+ years of project development and community relationships
6+ years of First Nations collaboration
30+ First Nations cultural advisers, Elders and artists involved
2 formal letters of support from First Nations organisations
800+ educational articles published online
20+ educational videos produced
3 proof-of-concept short films completed
Feature film script complete, with an estimated $5.9M production budget
14+ proposed permanent and movable cultural structures and heritage environments
Long-term legacy: cultural education, tourism, community engagement and lasting infrastucture
[Explore Magic Lands: Ngarram]
[Support MLA]
Film Research & Sets That Stay
Most film sets disappear when production ends. Ours are designed to create something more.
Magic Lands Alliance is developing selected film sets and historical environments so they can potentially remain beyond production as cultural, educational, tourism and community assets.
Through collaboration with First Nations communities, landholders and regional partners, these spaces can become places where history continues to be experienced, interpreted and shared.
Explore Cultural Infrastructure →
FILMS
Period Drama Projects
Magic Lands Alliance develops historical film and screen projects grounded in research, First Nations collaboration and authentic storytelling. From feature films and television series to short films and educational productions, our stories explore Country, Culture and Australia’s shared history — using film as a catalyst for education, cultural preservation and lasting community impact.
Explore Film Projects →
EDUCATION
From Film Research to Knowledge
Magic Lands Alliance transforms years of film research, First Nations collaboration and production development into educational resources that connect people with Country, Culture, history and the natural world — creating knowledge and learning opportunities that extend far beyond the screen.
MLA Education Platform
800+ Educational Articles Released
Explore a growing collection of research and educational knowledge across:
First Nations Knowledge & Culture
Australian & Indigenous History
Frontier Wars & Colonial History
Language, Lore & Place Names
Astronomy
Aquaculture
Science
Ecology & Environment
Geology & Deep-Time History
Plants & Animals
Historical People & Stories
Advanced Research
Explore Educational Content →
TOURISM
Tourism Integration
Magic Lands Alliance is developing a new model of cultural tourism, transforming historical storytelling and film production into lasting visitor experiences. Through First Nations collaboration, cultural infrastructure and the proposed Magic Lands Cultural & Historical Trail, we aim to connect significant locations across Victoria — creating journeys through Country, Culture and history while supporting regional communities, education and local economies.
Explore Tourism →
COMMUNITY
Community & First Nation Collaboration
Magic Lands Alliance works alongside First Nations communities, Traditional Owners, Elders, cultural advisers, and local communities to research and develop stories connected to Country. Collaboration informs our films, historical research, education and cultural interpretation, while selected film sets and infrastructure are designed to remain beyond production as lasting community assets. Through this model, storytelling becomes a catalyst for cultural preservation, education, tourism, employment and stronger community outcomes.
Explore Communities →
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
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.
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.
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.
Become Part of the Story
Help create lasting outcomes through education, Indigenous culture, and community engagement.