Johnny Guwana Malibirr - Murunga Island

This story belongs to Johnny’s mother. The painting depicts the journey of the djarrak (seagull) and the shark to a significant rock near Murunga Island in the Crocodile Islands, off the coast of North East Arnhem Land.

Beginning their journey off the coast of Cape Arnhem, near Nhulunbuy, the animals travel to Murunga Island. Along the way, they visit several important sites before finally reaching the island, where they remain forever.

The landing rock holds deep cultural significance. As the tides rise and fall, the rock appears and disappears beneath the water, marking its enduring connection to the sea and the ancestral journey. The footprints embedded in the rock are those of the djarrak, demonstrating that the seagull continues to walk upon this sacred place forever.