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The Illawarra Dreaming
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TitleThe Illawarra Dreaming
DescriptionThe colours and materials used in this artwork are representative of the evergreen escarpment, rivers, streams, ocean and shoreline as well as the abundant food system. The shells used illustrate the middens by the lake’s edge.
The artwork represents parts of two local Dreaming stories – Gang-Man-Gang (The Whale and the Starfish), the creation of Windang Island and Gurrangatty, the creation of Lake Illawarra.
Gurrangatty
As told by Aunty Lorraine Brown
This is the story of the creation of the waterways of the Illawarra
It is the story of a gigantic fish – Gurangatty who was involved in a dual
Some say the dual was with a giant eel and others say it was with a huge serpent
The dual happened all the way from the mountains to the sea – with the creatures splitting open the earth and creating the waterways. It went on for days.
Eventually, the eel (or the snake) broke through the earth looking for Gurangatty and so Lake Illawarra was created
Gurangatty disappeared
Some say the eel still lies at the bottom of Lake Illawarra – waiting
Others say the serpent lies draped over the hills creating the escarpment
Maybe they were both in the dual
And maybe they are both still waiting for Gurangatty
Who knows?ArtistAunty Lorraine Brown and Narelle ThomasGeolocation[1] Address293, Reddall Parade, Mount Warrigal, 2528, AustraliaExternal LinkLake Illawarra Art Trail
DescriptionThe colours and materials used in this artwork are representative of the evergreen escarpment, rivers, streams, ocean and shoreline as well as the abundant food system. The shells used illustrate the middens by the lake’s edge.The artwork represents parts of two local Dreaming stories – Gang-Man-Gang (The Whale and the Starfish), the creation of Windang Island and Gurrangatty, the creation of Lake Illawarra.
Gurrangatty
As told by Aunty Lorraine Brown
This is the story of the creation of the waterways of the Illawarra
It is the story of a gigantic fish – Gurangatty who was involved in a dual
Some say the dual was with a giant eel and others say it was with a huge serpent
The dual happened all the way from the mountains to the sea – with the creatures splitting open the earth and creating the waterways. It went on for days.
Eventually, the eel (or the snake) broke through the earth looking for Gurangatty and so Lake Illawarra was created
Gurangatty disappeared
Some say the eel still lies at the bottom of Lake Illawarra – waiting
Others say the serpent lies draped over the hills creating the escarpment
Maybe they were both in the dual
And maybe they are both still waiting for Gurangatty
Who knows?
ArtistAunty Lorraine Brown and Narelle ThomasGeolocation[1] Address293, Reddall Parade, Mount Warrigal, 2528, AustraliaExternal LinkLake Illawarra Art TrailCONNECTIONS
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The Illawarra Dreaming. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 11/06/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/12155