Rottnest Island, also known as Rotto, is a popular summer holiday destination for Perth locals. Its stunning coastline, lively cycling culture, and adorable quokkas have made it an iconic spot. However, many outsiders are unaware of the island’s rich and complex history, spanning over 30,000 years of Noongar heritage and serving as the site of the largest Aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia.
Wadjemup, as it’s called in Noongar language, is home to various historical remnants. These include ancient coral reefs from the last interglacial period, artifacts used by the Noongar people, and abandoned buildings that once served as a prison camp for Aboriginal men and boys. A plaque on the island reminds visitors that the past is still present.
To shed light on the island’s story, a group of First Nations artists is using drone light shows as a medium. Kooranup, a three-part series premiering at the Fremantle Biennale, will showcase the stories behind Wadjemup/Rottnest Island, Manjaree (Bathers Beach), and Dyoondalup (Attadale Reserve). Through a swarm of 160 drones, these shows will depict wildlife, spirits, and the ancient and living stories of the Whadjuk Noongar Country.
The use of drones in storytelling resonates with the traditional methods of indigenous storytelling. It symbolizes the vastness of Dreamtime, with creative beings gracefully moving across a cosmic space. Despite the island’s current state as a tourist haven with upscale establishments and a surge in visitors, many people remain unaware of its history.
Ilona McGuire, an artist involved in Kooranup, hopes that these shows will educate people about the island’s past. She acknowledges that many individuals have been visiting the island for years without knowing what transpired there. McGuire emphasizes the importance of enhancing knowledge and understanding by utilizing the island’s potential as an educational platform.
Long before becoming a tourist attraction, Wadjemup held great significance to the Noongar people as a meeting place and ceremonial site. However, when they were finally reunited with their spiritual land in 1838, they were brought there as prisoners. Professor Len Collard, a cultural adviser for Kooranup, recalls his teenage years when he discovered that he surfed over a gravesite, referring to the Wadjemup Aboriginal burial ground. This haunting burial ground holds the remains of an estimated 373 Aboriginal prisoners who died in custody.
These prisoners, incarcerated at Wadjemup between 1838 and 1931, were primarily convicted of petty crimes such as theft and tribal disputes. Many were influential leaders and warriors, and their forced removal from their communities had devastating effects. Diseases like influenza and dysentery were rampant within the prison, making survival challenging. If the prisoners managed to survive, they were released in Fremantle, but their journeys back home were often unsuccessful.
Collard describes these prisoners as forgotten patriots who were the first to defend the land we now call Australia from colonization. The prisoners played a significant role in constructing the island’s infrastructure, such as the seawall, roads, cottages, the Quod (prison), the superintendent’s cottage, and the original Wadjemup lighthouse. Their contributions are often overlooked, and Collard hopes that more people will be aware of their extraordinary accomplishments.
Wadjemup’s darker history, including its prison camp past, presented a challenging decision for the Kooranup team. However, they unanimously decided to bring the show to the island as an invitation to healing. It is not about placing blame but embracing shared history, change, and transformation. The script for Kooranup, developed by academic and writer Cass Lynch, depicts Wadjemup as a resilient place that has experienced various chapters. The Elders guide the island back to its essence, symbolizing its people’s strength and determination.
Kooranup is the sequel to McGuire’s previous drone show, Moombaki, which focused on the first stories of Whadjuk Noongar country. The reception to Moombaki was emotional and powerful, leaving audience members in tears. These drone shows have a profound effect on people, transporting them to a different realm as they gaze at the night sky and absorb the music around them.
Although the prison camp history dominates discussions about Wadjemup, the artists aim to showcase a different side of the island. They want to celebrate its beauty, its extensive history, and the diverse stories of its custodians. The goal is to create an immersive experience for the audience, allowing them to form a true connection with the place and carry that experience with them.
As audiences cross the water to reach Wadjemup, they will arrive at the edge of something new. They will enter a world that offers a fresh perspective, inviting them to engage with a complex history and appreciate the island’s profound significance.
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