Our Artwork

The main element of the artwork is the possum skin which holds cultural significance to Victorian First Peoples and features in the many stories of our clans, Country and those who wore them. This cloak represents the journey of Treaty, the identity of the Treaty Authority and self-determination for our peoples. It also tells the story of Traditional Owners, other First Peoples within Victoria, and the State coming together in collaboration, unity and partnerships to share wisdom and story through dialogue and negotiations.

The artwork tells of the deep spiritual, physical and emotional connection First Peoples have with the land, water and sky – that we are all inextricably linked. It is an acknowledgement of the deep and long kinship lineage and ancestry of Victorian First Peoples.

It also represents the coming together of two worlds in the journey of reconciliation, acknowledgement, truth telling and healing. It shows the connectedness of people from different walks of life joining together to address the injustices towards First Peoples over many generations and advocating for change.

Throughout the artwork are animals seen across the Victorian countryside and skies – these include the wedge-tailed eagle, long-neck turtle, yellow tail black cockatoo, wombat, superb fairy wren, pelican, platypus, humpback whale, dolphin, brolga and sugar glider. If you look closely, you will find many others.

Surrounding the possum skin are stories and representations of Cultural Lore, Land, Sky and Water elements. At the top is the sky – the night sky telling stories of Dreaming, astronomy and a smoking ceremony. Moving over to the right are mountain ranges acknowledging the vast and diverse country of Victoria. Within the mountain ranges is rock art and the right side, a scar tree.

In the middle of the artwork is a representation of land and Country. On the left side are cultural tools: a coolamon, boomerang, stone axe and bush medicine – tea tree oil and kangaroo apple. Moving over the land we see a baby in a coolamon under a birthing tree, representation of wattle, grassy hills and a symbol of connectedness to our culture and connectedness to each other – sharing our experiences, wisdom and journeys.

On the right side we see elements of bush tucker – emu eggs, witchetty grubs, seeds and flowers. Throughout the land you see First Peoples wrapped in possum skin cloaks. This is an acknowledgement to Traditional Owners and First Peoples all over Victoria.

At the bottom are elements of water – this tells the story of the two worlds of First Peoples and the broader Australian community coming together in unity – represented by the riverways and ocean meeting. In the river are canoes, eels and eel traps, and moving over to the ocean, you will see the humpback whale and dolphin.

Merring-Jippa Murray

Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wamba Wamba and Kamilaroi