CROYDON - RETURNING BOOMERANG
“bold arcing forms enriched by strong narratives that speak of the historical, cultural and social context of croydon create a dynamic sense of place that connects community.” manning daly art
Returning Boomerang by Manning Daly Art. Image credit Phlip Vids
Croydon, located on the traditional lands of the Tagalaka people, is a small-town rich in heritage. The town grew from 19th century gold fields and was the 3rd largest town in Northern Queensland throughout the gold rush. Visitors might find that hard to believe now, but will be surprised by how much the town has to offer in heritage and cultural experiences. The Heritage Precinct has preserved original buildings from the boom years and these now house historical displays. Lit up at night, Croydon boasts one of the loveliest rural streetscapes in all of Australia. The 1887 Croydon Club Hotel offers a warm welcome and chance to meet the locals. Lake Belmore offers a cool outback oasis, and dozens of kilometres of scrub tracks invite cyclists, runners, and walkers to explore the bush.
During the community consultation process, locals said that Tagalaka land has always been a meeting place – a place visited and returned to, over and over again. People from neighbouring Indigenous nations would visit sites on the land to perform traditional ceremonies, rituals and initiations. The boomerang represents this cyclical departure and return to Tagalaka lands and landscape. It communicates the history of the Tagalaka people, and the connection to Country that compels them to return.
Community members described the significant immigration that characterised Croydon throughout the gold rush of the 1880s, and a strong desire to acknowledge the contribution that First Nations People, Chinese and South-East Asian migrants, and women, made and continue to make to Croydon’s past, present and future. . The Returning Boomerang sculpture functions as a beacon for these ‘hidden groups’ – the cultures that underpin Croydon’s history and shape its future, but have previously not been recognised through works of public art.
“Tagalaka land has always been a meeting place – a place visited and returned to, over and over again. Utilising two balanced forms inspired by this story of place, the art communicates a connection to country and an understanding of people’s relationship to the land and journeys within the landscape, coming and going.
Acknowledgement of the contribution First Nations People, Chinese/South-East Asian immigrants, and women have made to the history of Croydon is recognised and expressed through First Nations design elements and designs created by Manning Daly Art, referencing textile patterns specific to these ‘hidden groups’.
We acknowledge Traditional Owners Siyesha Douglas and Krystal Spencer for their contribution of design elements for the sculptural work.”
Manning Daly Art
Returning Boomerang by Manning Daly Art. Image credit Phlip Vids
Tagalaka Artists
“This design depicts the traditional wildlife and cultural values that have been prevalent to the Tagalaka people. The brolga is specific to the Waratah Dreaming story that was told by my great grandfather Jack Douglas. The black bream, long neck turtles, goanna and plain turkey (bustard) are animals that continue to be enjoyed in abundance that we hunt locally around Croydon. The wallabies are also animals that are occasionally consumed and are signs of the remoteness of the outback.
The symbols throughout this design specifically depict the Tagalaka peoples connection to the land and the abundance of resources that the land continues to provide. They also show the strong community values that have been taught and continue to be prevalent growing up in Croydon. I have also included two men doing the corroboree that represents the traditional dances that were once taught but have since been lost, the footprints walking towards the men represents the hope that someday we can rediscover the traditional dances and songs that were once performed so that we can keep the Tagalaka history strong.”
Siyesha Douglas
The designs Krystal created were inspired by a story that Nana Gladys's told her:
“When she was little and used to go fishing with her parents or friends, they would go to the Belmore and fish for Perch and to catch the perch, they would use cotton threads as fishing line, double it up and twist it to make it strong. For the hook they used the common pin, bent it in the shape of a hook and tied the thread at the top of the pin. When they got the chance to go out further, they would go fishing for turtle and if the swamp was dry they would look for bumps in the dry mud and that's how they knew that there was a turtle under it. And as for the Goanna they would find it in a hole or in a tree somewhere and they would try to knock it down with something and chase it.”
Krystal Spencer
Surface design by Siyesha Douglas. Image credit Phlip Vids.
Surface design by Krystal Spencer. Image credit Phlip Vids