Black Mist Burnt Country

Testing the Bomb. Maralinga and Australian Art

In the 1950s Australia became the nuclear testing ground for the British Government. A total of 12 atomic tests were conducted. Sixty years after the events Black Mist Burnt Country revisits the history of the test program at Maralinga, Emu Field and Monte Bello Island, through works by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists across the mediums of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, music and new media spanning seven decades.  An award winning Burrinja national touring exhibition.    

“Powerful, though-provoking, moving - a must-see.” - 2017 Audience member

Black Mist Burnt Country
Public Program

Guided Tours

A guided tour of the exhibitions works and history. Starting from the 5th of December and available Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays by appointment only. Please book ahead to assure availability - contact box office on (03) 9754 8723 or use this online form

n.b Tours unavailable from 22 Dec - 14 Jan

January Tour Dates for 2019

THUR JAN 17 2PM | SUN JAN 20 11AM | THUR JAN 24 2PM
WED JAN 30 11AM | WED FEB 06 11AM

Kids Activities

1000 Cranes

According to Japanese tradition the person who folds a thousand cranes is granted a wish. Origami cranes have become a symbol for the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, and subsequently a symbol for peace, through the book “Sadako and the thousand paper cranes”. 

Magnetic Poetry Board - express your self in rhyme, verse & haiku, add your poem to the story of the exhibition

See below for film program and writers forum

Part of the Black Mist Burnt Country Public Program

DR. STRANGELOVE

OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB 

In 1964, with the Cuban Missile Crisis fresh in viewers' minds, the Cold War at its frostiest, and the hydrogen bomb relatively new and frightening, Stanley Kubrick dared to make a film about what could happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button -- and played the situation for laughs. Dr. Strangelove's jet-black satire (from a script by director Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, and Terry Southern) and a host of superb comic performances (including three from Peter Sellers) have kept the film fresh and entertaining. 

Stanley Kubric's iconic Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) is presented with discussion about the film and its history led by Mick Broderick from Murdoch University

Part of the Black Mist Burnt Country Public Program

Midnight Oil 1984 (2018) 

This documentary is a vivid portrait of the era and the songs that embodied it.

In 1984, Midnight Oil released their iconic record Red Sails in the Sunset. They embarked on a relentless tour around the nation performing raw and electrifying music that reignited the imagination of young Australians. That same year, their lead singer Peter Garrett committed to run for a Senate seat for the Nuclear Disarmament Party. With the mounting pressure of balancing the demands of music and politics this is the year that would make, but nearly break, Australia’s most important rock and roll band.

Thirty years in the making and featuring never seen before seen footage of the band on and off the stage, MIDNIGHT OIL 1984 is the untold story of the year Australia’s most iconic rock band inspired the nation to believe in the power of music to change the world.

A concert style screening.

Part of the Black Mist Burnt Country Public Program

Exposing Maralinga in Print   

a writer's forum

With moderator Robin Gerster, (Professor at the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics at Monash University) three authors examine and explore their process of bringing the story of Maralinga and the effects of the British testing program to print, each from a different perspective. 

Panel:

Elizabeth Tynan - "Atomic Thunder: British Nuclear Testing in Australia" 
Frank Walker - "Maralinga: The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country"
Christobel Mattingley (tbc) - "Maralinga's Long Shadow, Yvonne's Story"

Part of the Black Mist Burnt Country Public Program

New Works from the Neil McLeod Gift Collection

Aboriginal art from Arnhem Land and the Kimberley

It is with great excitement that we present a number of large scale works from Neil McLeod Gift Collection in the Foyer Gallery, including many previously unseen.  These works were gifted to the Collection in 2001, however as they were unstretched they were unable to be displayed until now.