Goondiwindi Water Tank Art: A Celebration of Culture and Nature

The Goondiwindi Water Tank Art, found on McLean Street near the Old McIntyre Bridge, is a public art installation that celebrates the region's Indigenous heritage and natural beauty. The mural, titled “On the Macintyre River”, was an initiative of Care Goondiwindi, created in response to the “Connecting Country & People” project and in celebration of NAIDOC week. The artwork was created to engage and inspire Indigenous community artists from the Bigambul and Kamilaroi people. The artists include Tanya Kirkegaard, Cheryl Moggs (Bigambul), Karlene Duncan (Kamilaroi), and Ian McCallam. The mural depicts the Aboriginal meaning of Goondiwindi, derived from the word “Goonawinna,” which means “the resting place of the birds”. This is represented through various symbols, including the Brogla, symbolizing ceremony and dance, and the Emu, a totem of the Bigambul people, representing identity, place, and connection. The Macintyre River, which the mural overlooks, was historically a chain of waterholes connected only in good seasons until the completion of the Hilton Weir in 1942. These waterholes were a favorite resting place for numerous bird species, hence the name “Goonawinna”. The Bigambul people, the traditional custodians of the land, maintain a strong connection to the river through their songs, dances, and ceremonies. The water tank art is a key part of the Goondiwindi Region Art Trail, which includes other public art installations and sculptures throughout the region.