Celebrating Indigenous Culture
at The Waterfront, Shell Cove

OUR STORY

The Waterfront, Shell Cove resides on the traditional lands of Dharawal Country.

Dharawal/Tharawal Country stretches from Botany Bay, across to Campbelltown and Moss Vale in the west, and as far south to the Shoalhaven River.

The traditional stories of the Dharawal people tell of their arrival from the north in canoes to the mouth of Lake Illawarra, where they found fish, oysters, waterbirds and grubs were plentiful.

The Dharawal people moved throughout their own lands, and those of the neighbours, gathering with one another for the trade of food and raw materials and celebrations.

It is these journeys that inspired Racheal Morgan in the creation of her art works, Djalgala Nguru (Embrace Country).

Racheal is a Yuin / Anaiwan artist and local school principal with family connections to the Illawarra region.

Her works are on display at The Waterfront, Shell Cove sales office, and are reproduced on staff uniforms, as a way for Frasers Property Australia to pay tribute and celebrate the traditional people of the region on which The Waterfront, Shell Cove sits.

Racheal explains her work below.

Djalgala Nguru is about the journey people, tribes and clans undertake to come together in ceremony. This painting represents those journeys our ancestors and people travelled and continue to travel today. It captures a meeting place where our people come together to share stories, trade food and tools, sing, dance, and practice traditional customs. It is also a place that brings connection and a deep sense of belonging.

As a strong, proud Aboriginal woman, I wanted to share my story through my lens and the connection of how land, sea, and waterways play an important role to country. The dark area at the bottom edge symbolises the land and the escarpment. The soft wavey lines at the top represent the ocean and the middle wavy lines represent the local waterways, people and journey.

Racheal Morgan, Yuin/Anaiwan Woman

LEARN MORE

To discover more about the Indigenous stories and history of the Illawarra:

• Visit the Kiama Library’s First Nations online hub for information and resources.
• The Shellharbour City Council hosts regular events to celebrate local Indigenous culture. Find them on the Council’s events calendar.
• Visit the Dharawhal Country Experience at the Southern Gateway Centre in Bulli Tops featuring videos, panoramic photography and interpreative signage.
• Visit the Wollongong Art Gallery and its extensive collection of Indigenous art and artefacts.