Waterhole Dreaming

Waterhole Dreaming tells the story of creation, renewal, and the sacred beginning of life-giving waters across the Country.

In the Dreaming, the Rainbow Serpent travelled across the land in the great act of creation, shaping rivers, valleys, and the pathways of water that would sustain all living things. As the Serpent moved through Country, it carved out waterways and breathed life into the land, forming the first systems of flowing water that connected people, animals, and spirit.

During this journey, the Rainbow Serpent paused to take a breath, and in that moment, a fresh spring and waterhole emerged — one of the first ever created in the country. This sacred place became a source of life, nourishment, and connection for all who came after. It marked the beginning of many waterholes formed across the land, each holding its own spirit and story.

The land itself is cared for by many different ancestral spirits, each with responsibility for different places, waterways, and living beings. Yet the Rainbow Serpent is remembered as one of the great creators — the one who first shaped the flow of water and brought life to the land through rivers, springs, and waterholes.

This artwork honours the power of creation, the sacredness of water, and the interconnected spirit of Country. It reminds us that every waterhole carries memory, life, and spirit, and that all living things are connected through the waters that flow across the land.