Wanaruah cultural burn on Muswellbrook Common
Stories of place connect communities to land, culture, and one another. Arts Upper Hunter set out to document two Wanaruah stories from the Upper Hunter Valley, creating new digital content for their cultural tourism platform, Creative Valleys, which celebrates the stories, people and the creative heritage of the region. The project, titled First Stories, was funded through the Strengthening Communities program by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
The first film in the series, The Common, was made by Jonathan Burrows, and has already garnered significant recognition, selected for the Blue Heeler Film Festival’s Nurture category and receiving the award for Best Cinematography in 2025. The film captures a cultural burn at Muswellbrook Common, guided by local Elders and supported by the Aboriginal Engagement team from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development / Local Land Services.
CEO of the Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council, Dee-Ann Douglas, praised the film, saying:
“The film about the Common was absolutely incredible-it captured the depth of our culture with a powerful cultural burn that showed connection, care of Country and the strength of our people.”
You can now watch the film on the link below…
For Jonathan, the award is a meaningful acknowledgement: “It’s honestly such an honour. The recognition for cinematography feels like a tribute to the story itself, because the landscape and the people are what make it beautiful. I wanted the images to feel alive and connected, like the land was part of the storytelling.”
Reflecting on what drew him to the project, he says: “I was drawn to the idea of the Wanaruah people reclaiming and reconnecting with their land through the cultural burn… My goal was to listen first, to understand what the burn meant to the community, and then capture that story without getting in the way of it.”
One moment remains especially vivid: “When the fire started-it wasn’t rushed or dramatic. It was calm and deliberate, guided by knowledge passed down for generations. You could feel the significance of it. It wasn’t just about managing land, it was about healing it, and you could see how that healing extended to the people too.”
Burrows said witnessing traditions being shared with children during the burn was among the most meaningful moments:
“It was beautiful to see these practices being passed down. Those intergenerational moments are what keep culture strong.”
The second film in the series focuses on Uncle Warren and Kerry-Ann Taggart:
“They share their creation story and some incredible rock carvings. It’s a reminder that the presence of Indigenous people is all around us—you just have to know how to see it.”
The film will connect past and present through language, landscape, and story, continuing the project’s aim to honour and share Wanaruah knowledge.