Wargul and Rivers artwork unveiled – Fremantle Shipping News

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Fremantle Shipping News was delighted to attend the unveiling of a new artwork by emerging Indigenous artist Lily Wilson, on 11 May 2026, on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan at Djoondalup Point Walter. Jean Hudson reports.

The event marked the completion of the Swan-Canning Estuary Reef Restoration Project, which is helping restore the waterway’s ecosystem through 24 shellfish reefs.

The event took place at Dyoondalup Point Walter on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan Swan River, and was attended by Lisa O’Malley MLA, State Member for Bicton, Dr Kerry Trayler of the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and representatives from The Nature Conservancy Australia.

Featured on a newly installed sign on the foreshore, Lily Wilson’s artwork The Wargul and the Swan River sits alongside information about the reef restoration project and the role of shellfish reefs in improving estuary health.

The Wargul, most often called the Wagyl and sometimes the Waugul or Waagal, is the rainbow serpent creature that created the Derbarl Yerrigan in the Dreaming.

Lily is a Binjarrup Noongar woman with connections to Whadjuk country and an emerging Aboriginal artist. Her vivid artwork has the Wargul – as protector of the rivers – surrounded by brightly coloured aquatic life along with a dredger and sailing boats. Lily is currently studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts at Curtin University, majoring in Fine Arts.

“I wanted to show the Wargul as a protector,” she explained. “Especially with the shellfish reefs coming back, cleaning the water and creating homes for other species. It felt really important to tell that story visually.”

The event opened with a beautiful and heartfelt Welcome to Country by Noongar Elder, Nigel Wilkes and smoke ceremony by Alice Kearing at Point Walter Dog Beach where the sign was officially unveiled.

The Swan-Canning Shellfish Reef Restoration Project area spans six hectares and includes 24 purpose-built reef units across four locations in the Swan River, hosting 160 tonnes of seeded mussel stock, about six million mussels from Cockburn Sound. Built by TNC in partnership with DBCA, the reef restoration has already significantly increased fish populations and biodiversity in the Swan-Canning Estuary.

River dredging destroyed much of the old reef systems. This 10-year national project is now restoring lost habitats with wildlife flourishing. 31 species have been recorded on the reefs, including 15 new species returning. Oysters and scallops are now colonising on the reefs, demonstrating strong habitat suitability and future potential for multi-species systems.

Delivered by The Nature Conservancy in partnership with the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, with the support from Minderoo Foundation, LotteryWest and the Australian Government and private donors.

This project has restored critical habitat, improved biodiversity, and generated valuable insights to guide future reef restoration across Australia.

*By Jean Hudson. Jean is our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent and also a regular feature writer, reviewer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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