Hill 60 is being captured through the voices of people with deep connection to the area. Photo: Wollongong City Libraries Illawarra Historical Society.
The stories behind a striking coastal site with significant cultural and heritage ties have been captured through the voices of those deeply connected to the area in the latest collection of Wollongong City Libraries’ oral history project.
Aboriginal traditional owners, custodians and knowledge holders have shared their intimate connections with Hill 60 in a new collection of Illawarra Stories interviews, giving insight through personal memories and highlighting the enduring legacy of family, culture and Country.
“Hill 60 is more than a scenic lookout; it’s a place of deep cultural significance and living memory,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Tania Brown said.
“By listening to these stories, we’re not only preserving our past, but also strengthening our connection to Country, community and culture.”
One of these stories is from Aboriginal elder and artist, Uncle Steve Russell, who is a Bidigal man of Dharawal Nation and the son of acclaimed artist Esme Timbery.
Uncle Steve designed the terrazzo artwork at Hill 60 which was inspired by his connection to Country.
Uncle Steven Russell’s work ‘Hill 60 Dreaming’ is about community and the story of Five Islands. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
In Illawarra Stories he shares the meaning behind the dreaming story in his design, with his accounts rich with teachings about traditional practices, family life, and the importance of passing knowledge to younger generations.
Others who have helped shine a powerful light on Hill 60 include Uncle Stewart Luland who shared his experience of spotting fish at the site for the past two decades and artist Aunty Lorraine Brown who discusses the seafood which was found in waters surrounding the headlands, as well as other elders such as Uncle Lance Puckeridge, Uncle Paul Cummins, Uncle Mark Pietruszewski and Aunty Sheryl Davis/Fulcher.
The project uniquely documents the social and cultural history of different parts of the region through the voices of locals, to bring to life the importance of the community and build a picture that otherwise may be lost.
It preserves more than just the words being said, with the audio style also capturing the way people speak through voices, accents and vocabularies.
The work is set to create a valuable record that can be accessed by educators, researchers, community groups and interested individuals.
The interviews are free to enjoy at your own pace through the Illawarra Stories website, with potential to contribute to the project by sharing your own experiences, or volunteering to help transcribe, both ways the community can be a part of this important collection.
