Menu toggle

National Museum of Australia

Where our stories come alive

Collection Explorer

4

Early Days (at the Billabong), 2012 by Mervyn Street

2012.0014.0003

Early Days (at the Billabong), 2012 by Mervyn Street

Object information

Physical description

A painting on canvas stretched on wood that features a herd of cattle in a body of water. There are also five men with horses along the shore of the water. There are trees by the water and a sunset with an orange sky and pink tones in the rest of the painting. There is a dust cloud that the cattle have made before they reached the water. On the reverse side of the painting is a label attached to the board with printed text that partially reads, 'Champman & Bailey / Fine Art Stretches / Custom Stretches / Fine Art Materials / ... /'. 'Mangkaja Arts / Mervyn Street © / 289/12 / Mervyn Street' and '60 x 120 / MANGAKAJA ARTS' is also handwritten on the reverse side of the canvas.

Statement of significance

This collection consists of four paintings on canvas made by Mervyn Street in 2012, each with an associated story.

Mervyn Street is a Gooniyandi man from the country around Fitzroy Crossing. His artworks and their associated stories speak of personal experience and allow insights into the lifestyle of Indigenous stockmen on stations across the Kimberley region in Western Australia.Each artwork captures a key moment in Street's life as a drover and stockman; they reflect the skills and knowledge of 'Country' he required in his job and the changes he faced during his working life - the fencing of lands, the transition from bush life to station life, the introduction of motor vehicles to the industry, the end of the horse-droving era, and the effect of equal pay within the industry. Street's story is also connected with the contemporary debate regarding Stolen Wages and reparations.

Object information

Back to top