This mural, painted by Indigenous artists Gilbert Laurie, Oral Roberts and Lewis Walker, tells the Dreamtime Creation story of how the country of the Bundjalung people was made.
Back When It Happened (Guurii Abuu)
In the Ancient Peoples Dreamtime (Guurii Abuu Buuthrum), the two headed serpent (nyah buulabu bawurr nguyirbaa) and the sleeping lizard (wuddarm narmarl) had a battle (boombalare).
The sleeping lizard (wuddarm narmarl) was woken by the serpent (nguyirbaa) which was destroying the sacred sites (juubil) and taking the lives of our people (nuli guurii) and the animals (gudjim).
As they rumbled and tumbled, they created the valleys (gabang), the mountains (dugun) and our mystical river ways (bulan).
The old man platypus (mabang Djungbung) called upon the sea animals (burugar gudjim) and the land animals (jugan gudjim) to bear witness to the battle (nyah boombalare).
Then the willy wagtail, the peacemaker (Djirrah-Djirrah), came to the battling Giants and told them to go (yanbihba) to the battle ground and finish this battle (goombinja nar boombalare) once and for all.
So they went to a place now called Evans Head (Gamii Garraa), the east coast of our country (ngali jugan), and more rivers (bulan) and valleys (gabang) were created as the goanna (Dirrawong) stood up on her two back legs and forced the mighty serpent (Noungbah) to leave our sacred land (wan-jugan).
And now today (bayarn) we know the Goanna Headlands (ngamaal bawurr juganbu) as the land of the Goanna (jugan Dirrawong).
As told by Lewis Walker.
In the Sky (Buburah)
The black swans (Ginibi)The seven sisters (Waringihyn-genbu)The three brothers (Yaaburrah)The handsome warrior (Balagan)The beautiful princess (Gaugan)
The Sacred Rivers (Bulan)
Richmond River (Maamum)Clarence River (Birrihn)Tweed River (Yaaburrah)
On the Land (Jugan) and Water (Bulan, Burugar)
The sleeping lizard (Wuddarm ngamaal)Goanna (Dirrawong)Willy Wagtail (Djirrah-Djirrah)The two headed serpent (Nyah Buulabu Nguyirbaa)Small butterfly (Jalngay)Carpet snake (Yamba)Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Bandjalahm)Goanna (Ngamaal)Bandy Bandy (Dalii)Dolphin (Guwandi)Fish (Jallum)Gecko (Juhluhm)Eel (Jagaugan)Cod (Ynungan)Echidna (Bunjin)Stingray (Munum)Freshwater turtle (Binging)Swamp turtle (Mujeen)Platypus (Djungbung)Saltwater turtle (Bubaayaa)Crab (Burugang)Long-necked turtle (Nguyuhm)Witchety grubs (Jubul)
Cultural Acknowledgement
Names and language advice provided by Gilbert Laurie.
