Creative Tales

The Burdekin continues to play tricks to this day, keeping its beauty and creative tales well hidden beneath the surface.

In 1847 the Bindal people took in Jem Murrells (later James Morrill), a survivor from the barque Peruvian, that had sunk in the Coral Sea off current-day Cape Cleveland. Morrill lived in the general area for over seventeen years, roaming, hunting and fishing around the Burdekin and Herbert rivers region. He was the primary intermediary in attempted negotiations with the early settlers and his adopted Bindal clan group around the division of land north of the Burdekin River. Descendants of Morrill’s still live in the district.

Author David Malouf poetically, yet poignantly, portrays this encounter in his lauded novel Remembering Babylon. The book's protagonist, Gemmy Fairley, is based on the experiences of James Morrill…. “now this man, who was somehow black as well as white…”.

One of Australia’s most revered artists, Sir George Russell (Tassie) Drysdale had a long association with the district, having worked at his family’s Pioneer Sugar Mill and later serving on its Board of Directors. He made paintings as well as a few sketches of locals, the mill and the land, having a great affinity with the district's landscape and referring to Pioneer as his ‘spiritual home’.

Beloved Melbourne cultural figure and artist Mirka Mora created a rich visual narrative of the district’s land, sky and waterways in the Burdekin Library’s 1983 mural commission, which is still displayed today.

Mirka Mora Mural