These murals are part of Yarra Ranges Council’s Water Tank Art Project. Featured water tanks are enhanced by site-specific artworks created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and infused with themes of Indigenous Culture and Country.

Mandy Nicholson

(Wurundjeri, Dja Dja wurrung and Ngurai illum wurrung)

Buln Buln Yinga (Lyrebird Song), 2022

outdoor acrylic latex paint

‘The background colours of the design depict the twilight sky as the best sunset views are seen from Corhanwarrabul (Mount Dandenong). ​

​A male Buln Buln (lyrebird), representing all male buln buln, is singing to attract their female, with a Buln Buln Ngarrga (Lyrebird Dance) and to honour his home on the mountain. ​

​The symmetrical lines that are unique to south-east First Nation carving culture represent the six layers of Country which are Below Country, On Country, Water Country, Wind Country, Sky Country and Star Country. They are bordered by Water Country.​’

– Artist statement

Born in Healesville on the lands of her Ancestors, Mandy Nicholson is a Traditional Owner of Narrm (Melbourne) and a leading Wurundjeri woiwurrung multi-disciplinary contemporary artist. She has completed significant art and Language projects that represent her Wurundjeri-willam, Wurundjeri-baluk, Dja Dja wurrung and Ngurai illum wurrung heritage. Nicholson founded Djirri Djirri in 2013, the only Wurundjeri woiwurrung female dance group.

Fiona Clarke

(Gunditjmara/Kirrae Whurrong)

Goanna Fella (Survivor), 2023

outdoor acrylic latex paint, fluorescent paint

‘The artwork depicts the wildlife of the area, celebrating the First Nations custodians, the Wurundjeri people, and the importance of the environment.

Goannas are strong survivors and have been surviving on the planet for million of years. They are a good representative of the wildlife and of First Nations people who are one of the longest surviving cultures in the world and have survived the perils of the colonisation of their lands. ​

​Before colonisation the Wurundjeri and Kulin Nation men went out to hunt goannas, kangaroos, possums, wallabies, echidnas, wild duck, and emus. The women would hunt for smaller animals such as fish, lizards, and shellfish. They would also gather berries, fruit, nuts and tubers such as murnong. ​

​The blue lines represent the land and mountains, the large circles are waterholes which sustain local wildlife. Within the goanna are symbols of running water, rivers — the backbone that hold it all together. The circles at the top are stars of the Universe and Milky Way where Bunjil and Waa return when their work is done.’​

– Artist statement

Fiona is a renowned Gunditjmara/Kirrae Whurrong Aboriginal artist. For over 30 years, Fiona has depicted her Aboriginal Culture through tapestry, painting, public art and children’s literature. Her works are featured in national and international collections, and she has attracted numerous public art commissions.