The table represents creation stories from both Milingimbi Island and Dharwal lands; two mobs from opposite coastlines, working together to create something beautiful.
Struck by lightning more than 10 years ago, part of a rare Australian Cedar tree is the base for a unique coffee table crafted for the Medibank Wollongong Hub. The original piece of ancient Cedar sat in a local timber merchants in Wollongong as an unused offcut for many years before travelling on the back of a truck to Darwin, then floating on a barge to Milingimbi Island in Arnhem Land, where it was crafted by the hands of Josiah Baker from Manapan and Dharawal Elder, Uncle Steve Russell, before finding its feet at level six, 77 Market Street.
Circling the edge of the table is the Rainbow Serpent. The Rainbow Serpent is a significant symbol within Aboriginal traditions featuring in Dreamtime stories
Off the coast of Wollongong lie five islands; these islands hold spiritual significance for Dharawal people, so it was fortuitous that the Cedar tree had five knots, which Uncle Steve anchored the islands to in the design
Uncle Steve lightly carved in figures of mullet swimming just beneath the water’s surface, representing the cycle of migrating fish around the five islands
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