This art­work pays homage to the lega­cy of the ancient Coolabah trees, whose pro­tec­tive hol­lows are still home to the cacoph­o­ny of native birds we see today.

A design con­cept by artist Tama­ra Corn­th­waite guid­ed by eth­noe­col­o­gist Fiona Walsh. Tama­ra and Fiona describe the work with this poem:

Ankerre Ankerre (Place of many Coolabah trees)

A Pointil­list approach,

Reflects the sky’s awakening.

Ancient Coolabah bod­ies sway

Dark and saturated

In the lin­ger­ing mist.

A his­tor­i­cal colour palette

Hon­ours a time of stand­ing water.

We remem­ber ancestors

Arrernte fam­i­lies

Thank those who care and tend our country

Today