Weaving with Aunty Marilyne Nicholls: Malamiya Mang Raffia Coil Workshop in Bendigo

Malamiya Mang — a coil-weaving workshop led by Aunty Marilyne Nicholls — offers a compact, two-hour immersion in living Indigenous craft in Bendigo, Victoria. Held in the heart of Bendigo, this free session teaches participants to create raffia coils while Aunty Marilyne shares stories tied to freshwater and saltwater Country and the plants that sustain weaving traditions. Tools, materials and light catering are provided; bookings are essential and groups are capped at 20, making the workshop intimate and hands-on. The experience centers on the tactile rhythms of coil weaving and feather craft: you learn to shape raffia into functional and decorative coils, practice traditional binding techniques, and leave with a small finished piece. Aunty Marilyne, whose connections span Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Baraba Baraba, Wadi Wadi, Jupagulk and Ngarrindjeri countries, frames each step with cultural context — where plants grow, how materials were sourced and the social role of weaving. Her two decades of teaching, exhibitions and awards, including the Victorian Indigenous Art Award, make the workshop as authoritative as it is welcoming. For visitors to Bendigo, the class is a cultural complement to the region’s open spaces and historic streets. It gives outdoor-minded travelers a chance to switch from trail to table — trading a walking pole for a coil hook — and to learn techniques rooted in place. The workshop also offers practical takeaways: basic weaving skills that you can practice with locally available natural fibers, and insights into sustainable plant use that connect craft to conservation. Because the session is free; spaces fill quickly. Expect a steady, conversational pace rather than a rushed craft lesson. The atmosphere is inclusive — all ages and levels are welcome — and the small group size means personalized attention. While the session isn’t a wilderness outing, it’s deeply informed by country: Aunty Marilyne’s stories link the craft to freshwater and saltwater landscapes and to the environmental knowledge passed down through generations. Whether you’re an experienced maker or a first-time visitor, the Malamiya Mang weaving workshop is a rare chance to learn from a recognised Elder, to come away with a handmade object and to carry a fragment of Indigenous knowledge back into your travels. It’s a cultural waypoint in Bendigo that rewards curiosity, steady hands and respectful listening. Plan to reserve your spot in advance through the booking link; sessions are offered periodically, and dates can change. Wear clothes you don’t mind handling natural fibers and bring a small bag for your finished piece. The instructor supplies tools and raffia, and light refreshments help set a relaxed pace. For travelers building a culturally rich itinerary in central Victoria, Malamiya Mang is an accessible, low-impact way to encounter living knowledge and to support Indigenous teaching practice and heritage.