A powerful new multichannel audio-visual artwork by multi-disciplinary artist Tahlia Palmer (Yuwaalaraay/Gamilaraay and mixed European descent), created in collaboration with Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung man Jasper Cohen-Hunter, will premiere at the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT).
Bringing together sound, moving image and archival material, the work examines the ongoing impacts of colonial land and water management practices along the Birrarung.
This exhibition marks the first presentation of the new three-channel audio-visual work, developed through an artistic and research-based inquiry grounded in Palmer’s 2024 creative residency with the Public Records Office Victoria (PROV).
Drawing on historical records alongside contemporary field recordings, the project explores how colonial decision-making has reshaped waterways and continues to shape Country today. At the heart of the project is a collaborative approach that centres First Peoples knowledge and lived connection to Country.
Working closely with Cohen-Hunter, Palmer identified significant sites along the Birrarung, recording on location to ensure cultural and historical context is embedded directly into the work. Cohen-Hunter’s voice and perspectives are woven into the soundscape, offering insight into the river’s past, present and enduring cultural significance.
Using immersive sound and video, the installation contrasts contemporary and historical perspectives of altered river systems, reflecting the KHT’s commitment to supporting First Peoples creatives who are exploring the use of new technology and digital media in their creative practice.
Field recordings captured both above and below the water’s surface are layered with video footage from key sites, oral histories and cultural knowledge shared by Cohen-Hunter, alongside selected archival materials. These include reproduced maps and documents from PROV that trace the colonial transformation of waterways through surveying, diversion and control.
The resulting installation is both meditative and critical, inviting audiences to listen closely and reflect on the long-term environmental and cultural consequences of colonial resource management. By making these histories both visible and audible, the work encourages a deeper understanding of how past decisions continue to shape contemporary landscapes.
Occupation Studies: They Tried to Tame Birrarung
Koorie Heritage Trust – Birrarung Building, Fed Square, Melbourne
Exhibition: 7 March – 17 May 2026
Free entry
For more information, visit: www.kht.org.au for details.
Image: Occupation Studies: They Tried to Tame Birrarung, video still, Tahlia Palmer and Jasper Cohen-Hunter