Artist : Isabell Moran was a practicing artist for over 40 years and an elder of local Birpai/Dunghutti nations.

Sponsor: Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council

Location: 14 Aston Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Description / Inspiration

According to the artist, Isabell Moran, “Bindi” means Black Princess – “spirit woman.” The name Bindi also represents a positive “spiritual force” for Isabell and her Biripi and Dunghutti descendants. Isabell said: “Bindi is all around us – she is in the rocks, she is the mountain and the sea”. She is a strong influence on the culture of our people and our land.
Isabell said that the Koala is like a baby to her Aboriginal people. Her ancestors saw the koala as an animal to be nurtured and protected, like a baby. For this reason they never killed the koala for food, unlike other native animals.
“Bindi” Koala is richly patterned with track designs and also depicts the movement of Koala through Birpai country from the mountains to the sea. Other totemic animals are also represented. The work overall features the colourful layered dot technique that Isabell used in her paintings.
Isabell said, “Just like a lot of the koala sculptures around the area Bindi is a powerful princess who will lift people’s spirits and she will also be calling a lot of people to come and visit her soon”.

Artist Biography

Isabell Moran was a practising artist for over 40 years. An elder of local Biripi/Dunghutti nations, Isabell founded and ran the Bindi Cultural Centre, Wauchope for many years. She exhibited her work widely and her artwork has been sold both nationally and internationally. Isabell was one of the concept design artists for the Cowarra Dam Public Art project, a partnership with Port Macquarie Hastings Council Waterwise, North Coast TAFE and Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council. Isabell made a great contribution to the local community, and recently a number of artworks to the new palliative care unit at the Wauchope Hospital. Isabell Moran passed away in March 2023.

Having a Hello Koalas sculpture painted by Isabell Moran resident at Birpai Local Aborginal Land Council is an outstanding way to honour the life and work of this important artist from our region who was much loved by the community.

Location Info

14 Aston Street is accessible from both Hastings River Drive and Warlters Street and is opposite the Dixie park Soccer Fields. 'Bindi' is resident at the headquarters of the Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council and is a few minutes walk away to Settlement City Shopping Centre on the corner of Bay Street and Park Street. There is ample parking on Aston Street. Open 5 Days, Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm and Friday 9am to 12 noon. Telephone 02 6584 9066. Email admin@birpailalc.org.au