All places have a beginning.
The Elizabeth Quay area began in the dreaming when the story of two brothers Gumap and Gudbru was first told to our young people. This dreaming story is an important part of our Noongar history which connects us through our songlines, far east to the desert and way up north to the Kimberley.
Twisted together the two Kylee (boomerang) shapes of the sculpture mimic the two seal brothers Gumap and Gudbru moving in play. The curved shape of the Kylee is unique to the southwest, with the designs of country embedded into the front side of the Kylee with a lineal carved design to the other side. The two tones (front and reverse side) of the Kylee represents the contrast of light, the light of the moon, and the darkness of the sky. It also represents day and night and our moieties/marriage systems through the duality of black and white. In song and ceremony Kylees continue to be used as percussion instruments for us as Noongar people, linking our Dreaming from the past, to the ever present, and beyond into our future.
The circular plinth represents the Boodja, the land of the Noongar people. The shield zig-zag pattern designs within the circular plinth symbolises the protection of our country and land through the passing down of story, song, and dance, which teaches us how to respect our Boodja, our country today, tomorrow, and into the future.