CONCEPT designs for art place markers to be installed on North Stradbroke Island have been unveiled.
The works have been designed by Quandamooka artists Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and Belinda Close.
The works share Quandamooka culture and storylines that are thousands of years old and allow those who experience them to learn about the ancestral connections between people and place.
Ms Cockatoo-Collins said the eugarie shells - to be installed at the Gorge Walk trail head, opposite the shops, at Mulumba (Point Lookout) - were symbolic of people coming together.
"They mark places of gathering for Quandamooka people and the new place marker honours those places of gathering, those who gathered and will mark the place of ongoing gatherings," she said. "Where they are placed allows the viewer to walk through and around - feeling the texture of the weathered shell."
Ms Close said her sea eagle art work to be installed at Cabarita Park, Pulan (Amity Point) depicted the eagle soaring in search of food. The art also acted as a weather vane.
"Mirriginpah is an important yuri and helper for the community and Quandamooka people recognise its connection with sea country," Ms Close said. "It is a storyline of the sea eagle alerting the Quandamooka people to the start of the mullet season."
Cr Peter Mitchell said the place markers could become iconic statements that would be photographed by visitors and shared around the world.
The place markers are being installed by the Redland City Council with the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation as part of the Queensland government's economic transition strategy for Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
Redland City mayor Karen Williams said the artists had captured perfectly the timeless links of the eugarie shell and sea eagle to the Quandamooka people.
"Besides being an important acknowledgement of Quandamooka culture, we know that international visitors to Australia - as well as visitors from closer to home - want to experience Aboriginal culture," Cr Williams said.
"At Redlands Coast we are fortunate to have an ever-increasing range of incredible Quandamooka cultural tourism experiences on offer which are attracting visitors to the area. These place markers will add to the experiences on offer and contribute to valuable cultural learnings."
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the place markers were among more than 20 projects being delivered by the state government as the island moved towards a new future as a globally recognised cultural and eco-tourism destination.
"Over the next two years we are investing $25 million to create jobs on Minjerribah," Ms Jones said.
"As well as these public artworks, there will be a landmark contemporary arts centre, better walking and recreational tracks, a new education exchange, more aged care beds, Yalingbila Bibula (whale on the hill) and a master plan for Goompi (Dunwich)."
The place markers will include information on the story behind each work of art as well as vertical location signage elements that can easily be seen from the road and include dual Quandamooka naming for Point Lookout (Mulumba) and Amity Point (Pulan).
The works will be installed later this year.
For information or to have your say on the designs, visit the Redland City Council's Your Say page redland.qld.gov.au/MinjerribahPlaceMarkers.
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