As Traditional Custodians of the land on which Greater Dandenong is located, Bunurong artists will celebrate their culture in a Noble Park street art project.
In a first for Greater Dandenong a newly built road has been given an Indigenous name – Muderra Way. Muderra (pronounced Moo-Dah-Ra) means torrential rain in the Boonwurrung language of the Bunurong people and was chosen in consultation with the Bunurong Land Council and the community. Its naming honours the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Greater Dandenong now stands.
The road was created during removal of the level crossing in Noble Park and links Leonard Avenue and Ian Street under the raised train line.
Artists Koby Sainty (Bunurong and Palawa) and Koorrin Edwards (Bunurong, Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Mutti and Yorta Yorta) are working with Robert Michael Young (Gunnai, Wiradjuri, Yorta and Gunditjmara), an experienced mural and sculpture artist, to honour the connection Bunurong people have to our city.
The trio are co-creating a traffic calming asphalt artwork which will extend across part of the roadway, using the industrial canvas to tell their own story.
The project is being delivered in collaboration with Council, the Bunurong Land Council and the Noble Park Revitalisation Board, and is funded by the Victorian Government’s Suburban Revitalisation Program.
The project provides space for visual expression, important storytelling and cultural sharing. It is supporting Bunurong artists to develop new skills in large scale artwork and is building capacity and training for professional development.
Mayor Cr Eden Foster said the project was a learning opportunity for Council.
“This project is being led by Traditional Custodians, the Bunurong people, in celebration of Bunurong Culture. Council embraces this opportunity to continue working in partnership with the Bunurong Land Council and this project serves as an important step towards reconciliation and serves as an example for local governments across Australia,” the Mayor said.
Chair of the Noble Park Revitalisation Board, Lee Tarlamis MP said: “The Noble Park Revitalisation Board is proud to work in collaboration with the Bunurong Land Council and the City of Greater Dandenong to deliver this important project. As the first Indigenous-named road in Greater Dandenong, Muderra Way asphalt artwork will be a vibrant and impactful way to celebrate the Bunurong people and tell the story of Muderra”.
Photo credit: Artists Robert Michael Young and Koby Sainty.