Yalanji Arts & Gifts - Handmade, Heartfelt, Homegrown

SOUVENIR SHOPPING IS PART OF THE FUN when on holidays, and while things like magnets and keyrings are always popular, sometimes you want to find something a bit more special and meaningful. In Port Douglas, Yalanji Arts & Gifts offers a unique and meaningful alternative. This shop connects visitors with the rich culture of the local Kuku Yalanji people, while directly supporting the Indigenous artists who create each piece.

Nestled half-way down Macrossan Street, each piece sold in this beautiful store - from hand-screen printed fabrics and ceramics to tea towels and bags - is made by Kuku Yalanji artists from the Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community and surrounding areas.

The shop features the work of artists like Margaret Rocky, Lorna Shuan, Karen Shuan, Vanessa Cannon, Laurence Gibson and Gregory Salt, and gives visibility to the broader network of Kuku Yalanji artists of the region. The offering is broad: handcrafted prints, fabrics, ceramics, and giftware, all authentic, locally made, and deeply personal.

The shop is being run by the member artists of Yalanji Arts, covering all the ongoing costs themselves including a monthly shop lease and utilities. Buying at the shop not only helps sustain their beautiful pottery and printmaking programs but also keeps their community-driven centre alive and thriving.

Behind the scenes, Sabine Hoeng (Manager of Yalanji Arts) works closely with artists and facilitators and to help bring their designs to life. At the same time, Yalanji Arts Centre staff are actively involved in hands-on training, continually developing their skills in art production and creative processes.

Be sure to visit this creative space, explore unique gifts, and support local talent on your next trip to Port Douglas.

Once new fabric designs are screen printed in a variety of colour combinations and layouts at the Yalanji Arts Centre studio, a highly selective team of artists and staff carefully choose their favourites. These standout designs are then sent to Sydney for high-volume printing.

In response to customer requests - and with growing interest in their work- the artists have been busy developing a brand-new product line.  The craftsmanship speaks for itself. The ceramics are handmade at Mossman Gorge and the fabrics continue to be hand printed with meaning and precision.

Even the smallest items have a sense of place, each one a piece of the landscape and the people behind it. This fresh collection includes hand-sewn homewares like cushion covers and table runners, along with clothing and accessories, all crafted from their unique designs. 

Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to find these beautiful handmade gifts at affordable prices, not just high-end gallery pieces. And for those who can’t make it to Port Douglas, the Yalanji Arts online store makes shopping easy from anywhere in the world.

But it’s the local support that the artists are grateful for too. Many people in the community already have strong connections with Yalanji families, built over years of living and working together in schools, hospitals, and local spaces. And now, they can enjoy this creative retail space together whilst they shop for meaningful gifts for special occasions.