9 September 2023 - present

11 Stories from the River Dyarubbin is a series of 11 audio walks along Dyarubbin / Hawkesbury River, between Yarramundi and Sackville, sharing the river's stories at the places they happened. In each audio walk, Dharug narrators guide the listener through stories told by over 80 contributors, underscored by original music.

In this exhibition, visitors can explore the audio walks and also learn more about the 11 Stories project, including the creative process behind it.

The audio walks include stories of the river's formation, Dyarubbin's Aboriginal people and their enduring relationship with the river, first contact and settlement, farming, floods, ecology and environmental concerns, and the many different uses of the river - as a vital resource, place of cultural and spiritual significance, site of commerce and trade, playground and more.

The display also features photos and artworks created for and during the project, as well as 11 objects from the Museum's collections - one for each of the 11 Stories audio walks.

Visit the Museum to learn more about this fascinating project and listen to the audio walks.
You can also stream the audio walks at the 11 locations now, using your internet-enabled device. To listen now, click here. For the best experience, headphones are recommended.

Marri Badu Maru - Big Water Path, by Leanne Mulgo Watson, 2022. Created by the artist for 11 Stories from the River Dyarubbin.

Acknowledgements:

11 Stories is a collaborative project led by composer/producer Oonagh Sherrard with the generous support and collaboration of Hawkesbury Regional Museum, Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, Hawkesbury Historical Society, Western Sydney University Sustainable Futures, Hawkesbury Environment Network, Windsor and Windsor South Public Schools, Windsor High School, Hawkesbury Independent School and Brewongle Environmental Education Centre. It was created over 5 years with support of the NSW Government through Create NSW, Museums and Galleries NSW and assistance from the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.