Many of us locals have fond memories centred around our holidays on Rottnest Island.
Who’s with me?
Sunshine, pristine beaches, riding bikes and quokka watching.
The trips we took with friends lounging around on boat decks before heading to land for a drink at the Rottnest Pub were *the best* nothing to do… and all day to do it.
Whilst teaching I would take students over to the island to draw and paint the landscape. With a vast variety of different land formations from the pink salt lakes to the jagged coastal rocks. The island is rich with visual interest and matched with a layered history.
My husband fondly remembers his holiday’s over there as a kid. Surfing all morning and biking to the bakery in the afternoon to scoff a few sausage rolls.
His memories inspired the story behind this artwork. We’re looking forward to creating a few memories over there with our own children soon.
Nothing like creating some memories together to warm the heart, hey.
When referring to Rottnest it's important to acknowledge the traditional landowners; the Whadjuk Noongar people who named the island Wadjemup, which means ‘place across the water where the spirits are’. So beautiful and much more poetic than the name given by Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh, ’t Eylanddt ’t Rottenest.
Translation; 'Rats Nest Island'
Vlamingh mistook Quokkas on the island for rats.
I’m shaking my head right there with you.
The cultural significance of the Island for the Whadjuk people is fascinating. A beautiful story of a spiritual paradise where spirits transition from the physical world to the spiritual world. When the spirit is ready to transition it moves to the westside of the island where it is taken by a whale to the ocean’s horizon in the far west. This, its final resting place named Kooranup.
Post-colonial times saw the Island turned into a prison for Aboriginal men and boys. We can do a lot more to acknowledge the atrocities that happened there. In a time of listening, learning and black lives matter. I have a link here to a great resource; Rottnest Island: Black prison to white playground, ABC radio, 2016.
These days going to Rottnest seems to be all about getting the perfect quokka selfie. ‘cause #quokkaselfie Chris Hemsworth, Margo Robbie, Roger Federer…
I’m yet to get my own quokka selfie pic.
It really is time to book a ferry and get back there.
Bakery Run prints are now available. Prints are available in all 6 sizes and 4 different background colours blue, aqua, apricot and blush.
Shop >> Original Blue | As blue as the summer sky
Shop >> Fresh Aqua | Cool like the ocean's waters
Shop >> Sweet and Juicy Apricot | The flavour of summer time
Shop >> Summer Blush | Warmed by the summer sun
