Acknowledgement of Country Mural: Mundi-gurrk and Wurring, wurring Family Gathering by the Biyal

First Nations artist Deanne Gilson has unveiled a new Acknowledgement of Country mural in the Ballarat Town Hall’s Visitor Information Centre.

Located within the centre’s Bath Lane entrance foyer, the mural stretches six metres high and spans four walls.

It consists of 20 paintings by the Wadawurrung artist which have been printed on 220 metres of vinyl.

“The mural has a deep family connection to me, showing my mother (Aunty Marlene Gilson) and extended family as we gathered during the first Welcome to Country,” Deanne said. “The Cultural Tree of Knowledge was created to describe the trees and the stories they hold both past and present, intangible and tangible.”

Above the doorway depicts crows as ancestors, along with King Billy and Queen Mary of Ballarat at the Black Hill lookout, watching over Ballarat.

To the right, the mural features the Yarrowee Creek, showing how Wadawurrung people survived living off the land for many generations.

And above the exit, the mural depicts 13 original black swans from Lake Wendouree and the emu constellation moving through the night sky, as well as showing the seasons changing.