Ballina Shire Council has unveiled Water Stories and Soundtrail, a renewal of the Richmond River interpretive trail that includes new hard signs and a geo-located audio experience.
The signage replaces the old Historic Ballina Waterfront signs that had deteriorated over time, with 23 signs featuring updated content and contemporary design.
In addition to the signage, Council has introduced the Ballina's Water Stories Soundtrail, an immersive audio walk that adds a new layer of storytelling along the river.
Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the interpretive signage is an important community asset.
"This project brings to life our riverfront and shares stories that help people understand more about Ballina's history," Mayor Cadwallader said.
"The signage and Soundtrail will help people understand more about the places they're walking through, whether they're locals or visitors."
The Soundtrail guides listeners from the Marine Rescue Tower to Pioneer Park in East Ballina. Stories and cultural knowledge are shared by Nyangbal knowledge holders Marcus Ferguson, the late Uncle Ricky Cook, Aunty Sandra Bolt and Uncle Graham Marlowe, along with contributions from local historian Kate Gahan and local actors voicing early settlers that were laid to rest in the old Ballina cemetery, now Pioneer Park.
Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) Chairperson Kylie Jacky said the project marks an important moment in local storytelling: "The soundtrail project is the first time the Ballina Shire will hear all the voices of our shared history that makes Ballina what it is today. Importantly, we will hear truth telling from our Nyangbal cultural knowledge holders who are the voices of Country."
Visitors can download the Soundtrails app, which uses location settings to automatically play each story as they walk through each storytelling zone.
The signs, located along the river from the Marine Rescue Tower to Fawcett Park, explore themes including connection to the river, the importance of Country and way of life of and culture of Nyangbal families, and the ways of early settlers who came to the river in the first half of the nineteenth century. Caring for Country and water and the environments it supports are other important themes. The late Uncle Ricky Cook narrates the signs, his contribution to this experience is an enduring cultural legacy for Nyangbal families and the wider community.
Destination and Economy Coordinator Alanah Ward said the combined upgrades strengthen Ballina's cultural and visitor offering.
"Visitors increasingly seek authentic, place-based experiences. Water Stories and the Soundtrail provide exactly that - a chance to learn through storytelling, landscape immersion, and cultural knowledge. It also aligns strongly with both state and regional visitor economy strategies that call for more meaningful experience-led tourism," Ms Ward said.
Local historian Kate Gahan said the project highlights the layered histories of Nyangbal and settler-origin people that sit side-by-side along the river.
"These stories reflect thousands of years of Nyangbal peoples' connection to Country, as well as the complex histories that followed settlement. It's a privilege to have worked with Nyangbal knowledge holders to bring these stories forward through a walk where people can hear, follow and reflect on stories told by local knowledge holders." Dr Gahan said.
The project received full funding from the NSW Government's Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package – Arts and Cultural Assets Program (Create NSW), supporting the rebuild of arts and cultural infrastructure following the 2022 floods, including repairs to the Aboriginal Cultural Ways nodes in East Ballina.
More information is available at discoverballina.com.au
