In what is known as Western Australia’s Wheatbelt, Njaki Njaki Noongar people maintain connection to their country through the landforms and stories left behind by their giant water serpent creator-being, Moulyk.
Crisscrossing, sliding over Njaki Njaki country, forming the land and the waterways, Moulyk's story and movement can still be seen all over the landscape today.
A circular formation is seen in the large granite outcrop at Mount Stirling.
This is Moulyk, who formed to shape the world for Njaki Njaki people.
Moulyk, in profoundly restful sleep, heard distant rumblings and vibrations in the ground.
It was the sound of the neighbouring mob's creator being.
As it moved closer and closer to his territory, Moulyk stirred from his sleep. As he became more alert, he realised it was one of his relatives, Wagyl.
At the junction of the Salt, Lockhart, and Yilgarn Rivers, the serpents _c_ommunicated.
Wagyl explained he is going to continue on, creating the lake systems and the riverbeds.
Moulyk replied "no, no, that's what I am here for.”
“If you've done all the work on your country, you should go back to sleep, where you've come from.
“Out here, this is where I take over."
Now fully awake, Moulyk went on to create many sites including the Yilgarn lake systems, which Njaki Njaki people believe to be connected to the centre of Australia.
He also created gnamma holes, a vital water source for Aboriginal people and the animals in their country, often along Aboriginal trade routes and occupation sites.
They’re usually found in granite rock, one of the world’s oldest and strongest stones.
Njaki Njaki people would modify these gnamma holes by lighting a fire inside, making the granite brittle, allowing them to make the water holes wider or deeper.
When Moulyk's responsibilities were taken care of, he returned to his deep and restful sleep at Mount Stirling.
Today, Moulyk's resting place provides refuge to the endangered black-flanked rock wallabies, wallaroos, echidnas, possums, birds, lizards, spiders and the critically endangered granite Tetratheca, found only in this area.