Burrawan: The desecration and resurrection of Lake Innes

Co-authored with Dr Ashley Barnwell 

In 1933 a drain was cut between Burrawan/Lake Innes and Cathie Creek, letting salt water into the largest coastal freshwater lake in New South Wales, damaging its rich ecology of plants and animals. A grab for farmland, the doomed project went ahead against years of expert advice. It was an act of destruction following in the footsteps of colonial greed and disregard for First Nations culture and Country since the invasion of the Birrpai Nation in 1818. 

Here we tell the story of Burrawan, the folly of its desecration and with hope for its resurrection. 

This book aims to elevate the value and power of local communities to step up and protect their surroundings. Furthermore, it demonstrates how such actions are enriched by learning about and foregrounding a First Nations’ approach to Country as a living source of nourishment for people, plants, and animals that demands a reciprocity of care, rather than simply an economic resource to be bled dry without consequence.