Artplace - Patrick Mung Mung: Texas Downs, Jarlarloo & Yunurrl Country

Jarlarloo or Tickelara Station is how the country around Warmun was known, before the community was started. This is the country of Patrick's father, and is where they would drove cattle on the way through from the Bungle Bungles to the Northern Territory. Along the way, the Jarlarloo tree, or coolamon tree is found in abundance.

Nowgarlwin is the name of this place.
Nowgarlwin means frog. This place is known for the place where the brown frogs bury themselves in the sand.
The mob who used to live and work on Texas Downs Station and go on holiday to Purnululu (The Bungle Bungles), used to dig for these frogs and cook em up on the coals.
It has white meat like the goondarrning (fish), it tastes good.

Yunurrl, also known as Spring Creek, is where Patrick was born. This is his daarm (home). Yunurrl lies on the other side of the Ord River, across from Texas Downs Station. This is yowal yowal country, (black soil country), which becomes very boggy when wet. There is a spring and lots of big black rocks called Jewidirrin. Patrick was born at Yunurrl and was carried to Texas Downs Station where he grew up.
When he mustered cattle to Kilfoyle Yard on Texas Downs Station, Patrick used to cross the Ord River to visit the Spring Creek mob. In this country there are a lot of chicken hawks, Marrmukji. When you hear their call you know that you will not catch any kangaroo or fish, because the Marrmukji have warned the fish and animals that you are coming.
Patrick has painted the two hills either side of the Duncan Highway. This area is not far from 14 Mile.

Gelenggedengbeny, Blue Trees, is a place on the Leopold river (shown in charcoal) not far from Lansdowne Station homestead.
The charcoal band in the middle of this painting is the Leopold River in Garndiwal, the country around Lansdowne Station homestead. This is in Gija country. Gelenggedengbeny is a place along the Leopold River, not far from the Lansdowne homestead. It is called Blue trees in English. Gelenggedengbeny means 'he showed them (his) penis'. This is the place where one man had plenty of women and another man had no woman. At this place two rock penises can be seen standing up. They are shown at the top and bottom of the painting to the right of the river.

Yunurrl Country (also known as Spring Creek Station) is where Patrick was born. This is his daarm (home).
Yunurrl lies on the other side of the Ord River, across from Texas Downs Station.
There are many caves in these hills and springs that flow down from the hills into cool waterholes.
This is yowal yowal country (black soil country) that becomes very boggy when wet. There is a spring there and lots of big black rocks called Jewidirrin.
Patrick was born beside this hill and was carried to Texas Downs Station where he grew up.
When he mustered cattle to Kilfoyle Yard on Texas, near the Ord, Patrick used to cross the river to visit the Spring Creek mob.
In this country there are a lot of Marrmukji (chicken hawks).
When you hear their call you know that you will not catch any fish or kangaroos, because the Marrmukji have warned the fish and animals that you are coming.
The name of this hill is Wooddergud- the place of the little pigeon. Further down is a hill called Jowoodoo, this hill has the name as Nancy Nodea's uncle.

Loomoogoon is the name of a spring in Horseman Gorge.
This was created by Loomogoo, the blue tongue lizard in the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming).
This is the same Dreamtime maker for many of the places across the Gija region
''She bin travelling all over this country making the waterhole and hills in this Gija country'', says Patrick

Nyarrin Nyarrin (also called Buffalo Hole or Fish Hole) is located on Texas Downs Station. It is a waterhole that never goes completely dry.
Texas is Patrick's country, where he grew up and worked for many years as a stockman.
The red area at the top centre of the painting is Tabletop mountain, and the black shape in the bottom centre of the painting is a cave (nowan).
Jirring (kangaroo), nanjawarrun (snakes) and loomoogoo (blue tongue lizards) live in this cave. This is red, rocky country.
Patrick describes this painting as a sheltered area protected by cliff, with a river and two fish holes.
In the painting the Horso Creek (shown as the winding band through the middle) runs into Buffalo Hole, which are the large areas in the centre and left part of Horso Creek.
" This country is called Marreen, that's where the old people used to live over Ngarrgooroon side, Texas (Station) way."
" That river going down this way. Going down to Red Butte Hill and then out to Ord River."
Nyarrin Nyarrin or Fish Hole is not a permanent water hole but as Patrick says the water is "going off, and when the rain come, he come back again."

Patrick says "Yunurrl country, that's where I bin born, that's Spring Creek Station."
Patrick has painted three main hills in his country.
Woorloorgood - Patrick says, ''that's the hill in the middle, he is the main hill for this country''.
Jowoorruk - is the rock to the right of Woorloorgood. Jowooruk is the uncle (skin way) for Woorloorgood .
Larreniny - is the rock on the left of Woorloorgood, she is the niece (skin way) for Woorloorgood.
This area near the Duncan Highway, which runs parallel to the Northern Territory border.

Red Butte is a large rocky monolith located north east of Warmun Community.
It is not far from Patrick's birth country, Yunurrl, (Spring Creek).
Red Butte is located on the very edge of the Ord River. There is permanent water at this place all year round, but in the wet season, this area can flood and water can swell up high over the river banks.
Patrick has painted the Ord River at the bottom of the painting,(the pink area). The steep banks leading away from the waters edge are painted as the ochre and red bands running parallel to the river.
There is good fishing at Red Butte but you need a 4WD to get into some of the fishing places.
There is a spring that runs down from Red Butte called Maisy Springs. This spring is situated between the middle and right hand side hill in this painting. This is yowal yowal country (black soil country) that becomes very boggy when wet. There is a spring there and lots of big black rocks called Jewidirrin. Patrick says: " even my country black, but I paint it with colour".
Behind Red Butte is the area known as Ngarrgoorroon, this country belongs to senior Warmun artist, Hector Jandany.

Yunurrl Country (also known as Spring Creek Station) is where Patrick was born. This is his daarm (home). Spring Creek comes down to Long Hole Creek, which is the exact place where Patrick was born, this is what Patrick refers to as his 'birth mark'', ( birthplace). In this country there are a lot of Marrmukji (chicken hawks). When you hear their call you know that you will not catch any fish or kangaroos, because the Marrmukji have warned the fish and animals that you are coming.
Yunurrl lies on the other side of the Ord River, across from Texas Downs Station. This is ''yowal yowal'' country (black soil country) which becomes very boggy when wet. There is a spring here and lots of big black rocks called Jewidirrin.
After Patrick was born at Yunurrl, he was carried to Texas Downs Station as a baby, where he grew up. Patrick's other younger brother and sisters were born at Yunurrl as well. Patrick has four other blood brothers and sisters, plus one half brother, that he met at the Halls Creek races for the first time.

In the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) there were two Dreamtime people, brother and sister, called Nyidbarriya and Kularwun.
Nyidbarriya was the woman and her skin name was Nywana. Kularwun, her brother was Janama skin.
In the Dreamtime, both were good hunters and they were looking for tucker in Purnululu, at the top end of Purnululu they turned to stone, and that is were you can find them still today. There is a gap that separates the two rocks, and you can see right through a large hole in Nyidbarriya.
Kularwun is tall, it is as if he is looking down over the Picanniny Ranges.
Nyidbarriya is bigger around the middle, but she stands next to Kularwun.
Patrick says "that whole area, that black fella name Nawana Jawan. That whole area hilly hilly side, 'round Piccaniny side. Hilly hilly one area all 'round that one rock."
This story occurred in Purnululu (Bungle Bungles).

14 Mile lies near Spring Creek station where Patrick was born. This is called Yunurrl country. Across 14 Mile Creek is Texas Downs and Nine Mile, which is Queenie McKenzie's country.
At the top of the painting are sandhill rocks which fall down onto the black hills when it rains.
Yunurrl lies on the other side of the Ord River, across from Texas Downs Station. This is yowal yowal country (black soil country) which becomes very boggy when wet. When Patrick was a small child his family moved to Texas Downs Station where he grew up. When he mustered cattle to Kilfoyle Yard on Texas, near the Ord, Patrick used to cross the river to visit the Spring Creek mob.
Patrick says 'my country, that makes me strong. It takes me back to where I started; the country where I was born and the country for my mother and father. I can walk all of this country and I’ll never get lost. I know every short cut all the way back to Texas, all the way back to Yunurrl.'

Jarlarloo is Patrick's father- George Mung Mung's country.
Jarlarloo is located on the north side of Purnululu, and on the south side of Texas Country.
As a young man Patrick used work as a stock man and gardener for Texas Downs Station. This gave him an opportunity to live and work and be in the country of his descendants. Patrick still makes frequent visits back to his country on the week ends with his grandchildren.
Mining companies are now looking for nickel on this country.
This painting shows the country called Goodoormoolyn. There are large pink and red rocky hills all throughout this country - they are called Doroworrlji. Patrick has painted the Ord River (yellow strip in the centre of the painting) that flows past Purnululu (Bungle Bungles and eventually into Lake Argyle). The black half circle in the bottom right hand corner is a nowann, or cave. There are many caves in this country, 'those little cheeky rock wallabies live in the nowanns'', says Patrick.
Jarlarloo is the name for a particular tree, as known as corkwood, that grows along the Ord River catchment.

This is country located just north of the Purnululu National Park. This country is located on Mabel Downs Station Country as well as Texas Downs Country. Patrick's father was the traditional owner of part of this area.
Patrick's father's country included areas such as Tickelara, Osmond Valley, the north side of Purnululu and the south part of Ngarrgoorroon.
The country at the top of the painting is the Jarlarloo side, the black hills
Below that is the brown hills of Purnululu.
Picaninny Creek runs in the gorge below, you can see the tree line along the creek.
The hills in the foreground are called Goondarringnarringy.
There is a large cave in this country, you have to walk to it , there is no track to access this place. There is also many places on this north side of Purnululu that have many paintings, but these places are secret.
This is beautiful country with many springs and permanent water courses running through this area.

This country was created by a brother and sister in the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming).
The brother was called Gulawun and his skin name was Janama.
His sister was called Nyidbarriya and her skin name was Nyawana. Both the brother and sister turned into stone.
Nyidbarriya is shown as the large rounded hill in the far top right of the painting.
Gulawun is shown as the second hill in the top right hand corner of the painting.
Patrick's grandfather told him the story of Gulawun and Nyidbarriya when he was a little boy. He has walked through this country with his grandfather and mustered cattle through this country with his father.
The hill range along the base of the painting is the big range in Purnululu, where Echidna Chasm starts. Echidna Chasm is a popular tourist destination and a popular place to walk.

This painting shows the country north east of Warmun Community. It is the country where Patrick was born,
This is known as Yunurrl Country. The long red hill at the top of the hill is Limestone country.
The strip between the Limestone Hill and bottom hill is "Long Hole Creek'', not far from '' Wild Dog Creek'' side.
The bottom hill is Yunurrl Hill, Patrick says, 'this is going down to 14 Mile Bore, this is where the pandanas country starts''
The black areas along this hill are nowanns, or caves, Patrick says, " the hills in this country have plenty of nowanns''.
The name for this country is Joowarrdidingy, it is the same name as ''that little bird that whistles ''joow arrd idingy , joow arrd idingy'', when you are hunting for kangaroo.
The joowarrdidingy bird like to whistle like a warning for other animals, the same for fish. The joowarrdidingy is like a chicken hawk (eagle hawk) with a sharp tail.

Yunurrl (the red hill shown) is Patrick's birthplace, his daarm (home). Yunurrl is on Spring Creek Station.
The circles at the top of the painting are nowanns (caves) and are good places to find kangaroo, echidna and snakes in the winter time.
There is a spring in this country and lots of big black rocks called Jewidirrin.
In this country there are a lot of Marrmukji (chicken hawks). When you hear their call you know that you will not catch any fish or kangaroos because Marrmukji has warned the fish and animals that you are coming.

Yunurrl Country (also known as Spring Creek Station) is where Patrick was born. This is his daarm (home).
Yunurrl lies on the other side of the Ord River, across from Texas Downs Station.
There are many caves in these hills and springs that flow down from the hills into cool waterholes. This is yowal yowal country (black soil country) that becomes very boggy when wet.
There is a spring there and lots of big black rocks called Jewidirrin.
Patrick was born beside this hill and was carried to Texas Downs Station where he grew up. When he mustered cattle to Kilfoyle Yard on Texas, near the Ord, Patrick used to cross the river to visit the Spring Creek mob.
In this country there are a lot of Marrmukji (chicken hawks).
When you hear their call you know that you will not catch any fish or kangaroos, because the Marrmukji have warned the fish and animals that you are coming.

Thalaywa is hill not far from Yulumbu, Tableland station homestead.
Thalaywa is a hill that stands up on an open plain. It's cattle country. Mick Jawalji used to muster cattle there with a camp draught horse, when he was head stockman at Yulumbu. He used to take the bullocks to the spring, Tullewa Creek to have a drink, then take them back to the stockyard.

Nginduwany was a man who is now a rock standing on top of a hill.
Nginduwany is a tall man with magical powers. He talks to you and stands up with a bundle of spears. He can change himself from a man to a tree and back again. He is at Dinyguwa, the gorge near Tiralinji community. It is in Gija country. Wuljaran, the creek goes to Cleak Skin Pocket and Marion Downs station. Ngindiwany is a rock standing up on top of a hill.

Barrajaban is an open plain near Yulumbu.
Barrajaban is an open plain near the airstrip at Yulumbu, Tableland station. Two emus were arguing. They met each other on the open plain, Barrajaban.
One said. "You go this way."
The other said. "No, I'll go that way (the opposite way)."
The footprints of the two emus are shown on the painting.

Narriwan, Wallace Hole is south of Tableland station. A man of Jungurra skin camped there and was chased by Ngayarrg, the sulfur-crested cockatoo and the other birds. He turned into a rock and is at Landsdowne station.
In the dreamtime a man of Jungurra skin was camped at the side of a hill at Narriwan, Wallace Hole, which is south of Yulumbu, Tableland station. He was grinding water lillies on a stone to prepare them for cooking. Suddenly, he heard the cry. "Ngayarrg!ngayarrg!". Jungurra looked up and saw Ngayarrg, the sulfur-crested cockatoo chasing him. He ran away. All the birds were running after him: Galba Galba, the Royal Spoonbill; Girrganyji, the little eagle; Minmirrginy, the kitehawk etc; and Girrbany, the rasp-tailed lizard and Bunun.giny, the goanna. They wanted to fight him. Jungurra 's footprints are still found in the flat rock near Narriwan . Jungurra cut out a gorge and busted a spring out of rock. This spring is called Riyilin. All the birds fought Jungurra on an open plain near Landsdowne station. He said. "I'm going to stay here forever". He turned into stone and is still standing up there today. There is a small rock on Jungurra 's right shoulder, which is his son, Jawalye.

Minjawarra is the black plum and is a prized bush food that also features in some dreamtime stories.
Minjawarra is the Gija word for the black plum or bush plum. It is the same plant and fruit that is called Gulangi in Ngarinyin. The scientific name for Minjawarra is Vitex glabrata .
Minjawarra starts fruiting at the beginning of the Wet season. The small, black plum-like fruits are prized as a bush food. Different mobs collected Minjawarra, black plums in coolamons and they shared them amongst each other.
In the dreamtime the birds and goannas were people. They had piled lots of Minjawarra at a law ground When they were asleep Garnanganja, the emu put the black plums into a coolamon and ran away. Garnanganja was a woman in the dreamtime. When they woke up, the people sent Yalangurrungurru, the chicken hawk to chase Garnanganja. He speared the emu, but didn't kill her, he just wounded her in the arm. That is why the emu only has small wings today.
At Bronco Valley Yard Garnanganja camped with her kids. The kids went down to the creek to get water. The people wrung all their necks except one, who told her mother. The emu had a fight with the people.
Garnanganja , the emu carried the Minjawarra a long way. She started off at Gurrandadadnyuma (the gorge near Imintji community) in Ngarinyin country and passed through Andajin country before finishing up at Ban.gurr , Baulk Face Range in Gija country.

Barljaninyin is the name of a 'window', which is a gap between two hills near old Colass Station.
Barljaninyin in the Garndiwal part of Gija country. There are bullock paddocks on either side of the 'window' and one has a bore. Barljaninyin is right near the homestead of an old station called Colass. This was Tommy Magic's place. He had many dogs and ran the station by himself. Mick Jawalji worked there branding cattle and sterilising cows. The place where Colass homestead was is called Wuruwa in Gija.
N.B. This is a different painting to Barljaninyin which was painted on canvas in 2001.