The City of Melville, in proud partnership with Perth Festival, is delighted to announce
Nitja, an uplifting, free, family-friendly and one-night-only event.
Nitja is set to take place on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan at
Dyoondalup Point Walter on
Saturday, 14 February 2026, from 5.00pm into sunset.
Nitja translates to ‘here’ in Noongar. This evocative new event invites the community to gather in a spirit of celebration, connection and reflection of Dyoondalup as stories of Country and community are shared through a dynamic fusion of artforms and live performance.
Nitja will bring together a remarkable collective of First Nations artists and storytellers to create an evening that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in tradition, led by acclaimed Noongar artist Ian Wilkes and Yamatji artist Chloe Ogilvie, with a rich team including Rickeeta and Alton Walley.
Celebrated musician and Artistic Director Iain Grandage is bringing his long-standing commitment to collaborating with First Nations artists across the country; and will take the reins as Musical Director alongside rising talent
Mongeeya and their lead- Wonguktha, Yamaji and Murri singer and guitarist Zac James.
City of Melville Mayor Katy Mair commented that the City is proud to be presenting the inaugural event in partnership with Perth Festival and leading First Nations voices.
“Nitja invites our community to gather ‘here’ at Dyoondalup Point Walter on the Derbarl Yerrigan, to listen, learn and celebrate stories of Country. We’re proud to partner with Perth Festival and leading First Nations artists to create a welcoming space for families to experience song, dance, storytelling and art that honours this special place.”
Through live music, storytelling, dance and animation, audiences will witness Dyoondalup transformed into a living canvas where sound, image and movement meet to reveal and celebrate the cultural significance of the area.
Artist Ian Wilkes commented that the event is an invitation for all in the community to experience Dyoondalup in a new way.
“Nitja is about connection, about coming together in a beautiful spot by the Derbal Yerrigan to share stories and song. It’s about really noticing where we are, and celebrating life from here, songs from here, and stories from here, that are still and always have been here.
"This is a chance to see this place in a new light and experience the energy that happens when community, art and Country meet.
"We’ve worked closely with an incredibly knowledgeable circle of Elders to create and produce Nitja. It has felt like a powerful moment of transition, where the baton is passed to a younger generation of storytellers.”
"Dyoondalup holds countless stories as a place of ceremony, gathering and belonging. Nitja honours this legacy, drawing inspiration from the land and waters and returning these stories through the voices and visions of leading young First Nations creatives.”
The concert will unfold across four chapters and celebrate the role of the river at Dyoondalup as a source of life, a journey-point, a place of gathering and ceremony, and a site for children’s learning.
Nitja builds on the incredible success of past event series Songs for Freedom, evolving the concept into a broader celebration of storytelling in all its forms. It is a continuation and a new chapter in the City’s commitment to supporting Noongar-led cultural storytelling and community engagement.
City of Melville Creative Producer of Arts & Culture Zöe Atkinson said Nitja embodies the City’s commitment to elevating First Nations voices and cultural leadership in the arts.
“Nitja is a powerful Noongar-led event. It reflects the City’s commitment to elevating First Nations voices and cultural leadership in the arts. We’re honoured to work with talented artists Ian Moopa Wilkes, Chloe Ogilvie and Rickeeta Walley to bring this shared experience to life.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic and settle in on the riverfront as the sun sets. As night falls, the Derbarl Yerrigan will become the stage for an unforgettable evening of cultural exchange and celebration.
Nitja will take place from 5.00pm into the night at Dyoondalup Point Walter Reserve on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
For more information visit:
melvillecity.com.au/nitja