Photo by: Jeanette Goodrich

Artist: Adnate. Designed by Gunnai Artist Alice Pepper

Location: 1808 Princess Hwy, Stratford

Proudly owned by Gippsland Water

Photos by: Jeanette Goodrich

The Stratford water tower showcases artwork designed by Alice Pepper, an artist with cultural connections to the Gunai, Yorta Yorta/Mutti Mutti, Gunditjmara, and Arrernte peoples. Renowned mural artist Adnate has brought Alice’s design to life on the tower, creating a stunning and meaningful installation.

The artwork, titled Cultural Flow, depicts Ancestors gathering by waterways for ceremonies, knowledge sharing, and cultural traditions. It also looks to the future, envisioning pristine, abundant waters safeguarded for generations to come.

Prominently featured on the tower are Borun the pelican and Wahyang the spoonbill, symbolising our enduring commitment to working with Traditional Owners to manage land and waterways. This vibrant mural celebrates the partnership with the Traditional Custodians of the region, reflecting deep respect for First Nations people and offering a cultural learning opportunity for employees and customers alike.

 Stratford was chosen for the first major Indigenous art installation due to its cultural significance to the Gunaikurnai people. This water tower mural marks the start of this initiative, with plans to explore additional installations across our service area in the future.

Story of the art, adapted from the words of the artist:

In the dreaming time, Boorun the pelican descended from the mountains. As the first Gunnai/Kurnai and the father of the five clans, he is a constant presence on the waterways, reminding us of the Songlines he followed across Country, over the waters, and through the creation of our people.

Gippsland Water’s logo, featuring the Spoonbill, has been reimagined using the traditional linework of the Gunnai/Kurnai. This depiction of the bird alongside Boorun symbolizes the collaboration between Gippsland Water and the Traditional Custodians to care for, preserve, and protect our waterways for future generations. Together, we watch over these waters with pride, just as Boorun and the Spoonbill do here.

The bright colors reflect the waterways of Gunnai/Kurnai Country, with the vibrant blue representing pristine waters and our collective hope to maintain this purity for generations to come. It is a vision of unity, working together to preserve the natural and cultural flow of the waters.

At the top and bottom of the artwork, the shapes of rock formations represent our ancestors, who remain ever connected to us. They guide us, lifting us when we falter, as we follow in their footsteps on the land, in the sky, and through the water.

Traditional Gunnai/Kurnai markings are depicted along the waterways, inspired by grinding stones once used to sharpen tools for fishing. These markings serve as messages left by our ancestors, reminders of their enduring presence and wisdom.

Scattered throughout the picture are meeting places along the waterways, illustrating the gatherings of our people across Gunnai/Kurnai Country for seasonal ceremonies, knowledge sharing, and cultural traditions.

At the heart of the image are our children and elders, who continue the sacred tradition of passing down oral stories, as has been done for thousands of years. They share knowledge about caring for our waterways, teaching the importance of taking only what we need so that fish and life may thrive in abundance. Water is life—not just for us but also for the plants and animals that are our totems.