Abstract

Australian Aboriginal stories about water occur across the continent from temperate regions, to the desert and tropics. Most are about fresh water and had themes and outcomes that revolved around creation or changes of form. Most stories about waterholes came from the desert, most about floods, rain and swamps came from the tropics while most about water as a drink came from temperate areas. The actors in the stories included giants, spirits, moon, people, birds and other vertebrates. While western concepts of water relate very much to its cyclical nature as well as its use and abundance, those emerging from Aboriginal stories are complex and multi-dimensional extending into spiritual dimensions. The depiction of Aboriginal relationships involving water reveals a body of knowledge that is different from western concepts but that should be regarded as equally valid and respected, bringing with it a new richness to western thought.