Jawurji Mervyn Street
Born 1950
Gooniyandi, Walmajarri, Jaru language groups, Jupurra skin group
Yiyili Community
Mangkaja Arts
I been hearing lotta stories bout this droving, Wiluna to Billiluna, and I don’t even believe myself I’m here, half way in this road…
As a young man Mervyn worked as a stockman on Carnegie Station where he met Martu people who had worked with his family on the stock route. In 2007 Mervyn travelled the Canning Stock Route for the first time himself, from Wiluna to Well 33 as part of the Canning Stock Route Project.
Cattle at Durba Springs
2007, by Mervyn Street
pencil and watercolour on paper, 30×125 cm
Mangkaja Arts
National Museum of Australia
A lotta old people telling me ’bout [how] they used to drove from Billiluna straight across to Wiluna. But they’re not in the photos, they got no name. Nothing. They got be part of this droving story.
This drawing of Aboriginal stockmen on the route was made at Jilakurru (Durba Springs), where drovers would graze their cattle after the long trek through the arid north country.
