Follow ancient footsteps in the sand at Bells Beach

GENERATIONS of surfers have long been drawn to the limestone cliffs at Bells Beach overlooking the Southern Ocean swell, but it’s not just the inspiring views and great waves that make this beach so special, according to Indigenous artist Gerard Black.

He is one of Explore Surf Coast’s community storytellers who share their favourite things to do and see in their Surf Coast Shire backyards in a series of short videos.

“I’ve been going to Bells Beach my whole life and there’s a special energy there,” Mr Black said.

“There’s an underlying memory of thousands of years of culture as the meeting place where Wadawurrung people would gather to trade stories, tools, skills and supplies – it’s a sacred, special place and retains its spiritual side despite all the development in the area.”

The reef offered a consistent food source, with plentiful abalone and crayfish, and the red rocks past Point Addis provided ceremonial ochre in a multitude of colours, while the coastal rocks that wash up only on this coastline were ideal for making tools with razor-sharp edges.

“When my uncles come down from Newcastle, I take them along the coast, starting at Point Danger then past Bells and Point Addis to Red Rocks – it’s some of the most beautiful and diverse landscape,” Mr Black said.

The ochre found here is significant and was important for storytelling and ceremony, worn on the body to indicate a message when travelling to another tribe, and Mr Black said red might indicate just passing through with a yarn to tell, whereas white might signify that someone had passed away.

“The deep oxide red available here might not be so accessible for inland tribes, so it was also able to be traded.

“Taking cultural walks in this area is incredible to trace these ancient footprints, see sacred middens and feel the energy.”

His love and respect of the area was used recently in a collaboration with sand artist Lowell Hunter, where he layered painted elements over drone photography to add an extra element of storytelling and mix the two artists’ perspectives.

“No matter how fast the pace of life gets, you can always find your happy peaceful place in the surf at Bells Beach or walking at the back of the dunes or along the beach,” Mr Black said.

“Those early surfers felt the specialness of Bells Beach, but it’s only now they are learning about the ancient energy and why they feel such a connection here; they’re learning to see it with a different set of eyes.”

For more information, head to exploresurfcoast.com.au.