Tarneit Station

This artwork tells a story of Bunurong Biik – Bunurong Country and the deep connections between water, Country, Community and our Ancestors.

Flowing through the artwork is a large river system referencing the Werribee River, a significant waterway for Bunurong people and an important part of the cultural landscape of this area. The river represents more than water moving through Country. It speaks to the way Country connects us, carrying stories, knowledge and culture across generations.

For thousands of generations, waterways have been places of gathering, movement and life. They provided food and resources, shaped pathways through Country and created places where knowledge could be shared and passed on. Within the artwork, the river moves across the landscape as a continuous connection between past, present and future.

Woven throughout the design are elements inspired by basket weaving, acknowledging our Grandmothers and the knowledge carried by Bunurong women across generations. All Bunurong people today descend from our Bunurong apical ancestors, and these woven forms honour the strength of those women and the cultural knowledge that continues through their descendants.

The weaving also becomes a metaphor for Bunurong Country itself. Just as individual fibres are brought together to create something strong, the waterways, people, stories and places of Bunurong Biik are interconnected. Each has its own journey, but together they form a much larger story.

Bunurong Biik – Connecting to Country is ultimately about continuation. Country has changed, and the landscape around it continues to change, but Bunurong connection remains. Our waterways continue to flow through Country, our stories continue to be shared, and the knowledge of our Ancestors continues to be carried forward by Bunurong people today.

The artwork invites people moving through Tarneit Station to recognise that they are moving through Bunurong Country, a living cultural landscape with stories that have existed here for countless generations and continue today.

About the Artist 

As a proud Bunurong and Trawlwoolway man, my artistic practice is grounded in my cultural identity, connection to Country and the responsibility I carry to honour the generations who came before me. For me, creating public art is about more than sharing stories. It is about creating space for our culture to be seen, acknowledged and celebrated within landscapes that have changed over time. It is a reminder that Bunurong culture is living, our connections remain strong and our stories continue.

Through Bunurong Biik – Connecting to Country, I wanted to honour our Ancestors, celebrate the strength of our people and reflect the deep cultural connections that continue to shape Bunurong Country.

My hope is that this artwork encourages those travelling through Tarneit Station to recognise the significance of the Country beneath their feet and the enduring presence of Bunurong people, culture and stories.

Instagram: @kobisaintyart