Great Kimberley Wilderness brings audiences closer to Country
By JEREMY WOLF
Visitors to the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle are being invited to experience one of Australia’s most culturally and environmentally significant regions through The Great Kimberley Wilderness, an immersive virtual reality documentary showcasing Kimberley landscapes, ancient cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge.
Created by White Spark Pictures and directed by Briege Whitehead, the production takes audiences across some of the Kimberley’s most recognisable locations, including King George Falls, the Bungle Bungle Range, remote coastlines, ancient reef systems and cultural landscapes shaped by tens of thousands of years of connection to Country.
Developed over four years, the project combines 360-degree cinematography, aerial filming and spatial audio to provide access to parts of the Kimberley that many Australians may never have the opportunity to visit.
The documentary explores a region often recognised for its dramatic natural beauty, while also highlighting more than 60,000 years of Indigenous history and custodianship.
More than a journey through landscapes, the experience examines the relationship between Country, culture and knowledge through the perspectives of Traditional Owners, scientists and local communities.
According to White Spark Pictures, filming took place on the Traditional Countries of the Balanggarra, Bardi and Jawi, Bunuba, Gajerrong, Gija, Gooniyandi, Jabirr Jabirr/Ngumbarl, Jaru, Miriuwung and Yawuru peoples.
The documentary presents the Kimberley as a living cultural landscape, highlighting the continuing connection between First Nations peoples and Country.
Among those featured is Bardi man Russell “Wossy” Davey, who shares knowledge relating to culture, art and the coastal environments of the Dampier Peninsula. Audiences also hear from Kwini man Ian Waina, who speaks about the cultural significance of Country in the far north Kimberley, including stories associated with the Wunkurr, or Rainbow Serpents.
Rich cultural heritage
The experience also showcases ancient rock art landscapes that form part of the Kimberley’s rich cultural heritage. Rather than presenting these places as relics of the past, the documentary places them within broader cultural landscapes where knowledge, story and custodianship continue today.
Throughout the experience, Indigenous knowledge sits alongside scientific interpretation, reflecting the Kimberley’s significance as both a cultural and environmental region. Ancient geological formations, waterways, coastlines and ecosystems are explored through multiple perspectives, highlighting the depth and complexity of the landscape.
The Kimberley is recognised internationally for its biodiversity, cultural heritage and geological history. For Traditional Owners, these places are more than landmarks. They are places of ongoing cultural responsibility, identity and connection.
By bringing together immersive technology, cultural knowledge and environmental storytelling, The Great Kimberley Wilderness offers audiences an opportunity to engage with one of Australia’s most significant cultural landscapes while gaining a deeper understanding of the enduring relationship between First Nations peoples and Country.
The production received principal investment from Screenwest and Lotterywest, with support from the Western Australian Museum, National Museum of Australia, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum, WAITOC, Kimberley Experiences, Water Corporation, Redsands Campers and Camera Electronic.
https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime/great-kimberley-wilderness
- The Great Kimberley Wilderness is currently showing at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle.
