16.5.17

East Coast Encounter from Coffs Harbour


A visit to the East Coast Encounter at the Coffs Harbour art gallery. Inspiring artists are depicting the 1770 dialogue from the perspective of the boat or/and the shore. A ‘Visions of Australia program’ that takes Cook's journey through Solitary Island Marine Park as a focal point. His log reads:
“From what I have said of the Natives of New-Holland they may appear to some to be the most wretched people upon Earth, but in reality they are far happier than we Europeans; …. They live in a Tranquillity which is not disturbed by the Inequality of Condition: The Earth and sea of their own accord furnishes them with all things necessary for life; they covet not magnificent houses & Household-stuff they live in a warm and fine climate and enjoy a very wholesome air, so that they have very little need of clothing and this they seem to be fully sensible of, for many to whom we gave cloth, left it carelessly upon the sea beach and in the woods as a thing they had no manner of use for. In short they seemed to set no value upon any thing we gave them, nor would they ever part with any thing of their own for any one article we could offer them; this, in my opinion argues that they think themselves provided with all the necessities of life and that they have no superfluities.”
Extract from Captain Cook’s journal



Stepping outside of the art gallery /library to the great outdoors of the carpark, the contemporary dialogue between indoors and outdoors landscapes continues. The Fitzroy Oval framed by Coffs Creek used to be know as the Old Camp of the Gumbaynggirr Nation. It is now being bricked up. Even the Aboriginal Heritage Signs have disappeared into invisibility....


Images:
Mural, NSW
Old Camp, Fitzroy Oval Aboriginal History Sign 
Fitzroy Oval, Coffs Harbour, Google
Brick by brick The Old Camp ('Yaam Nguura Jalumgal’) and open space disappears

Update:
The Coffs Harbour’s Gumbaynggirr community can call the remains of ‘The Old Camp', also known as  Fitzroy Oval  – 'Yaam Nguura Jalumgal’. The prerogative of interpretation will go to the Geographical Names Board of NSW for approval...  Coffs – Aboriginal Site Recognised with New Name, Bellingen Courier, 26.05.2017

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