Mununjali woman, Melissa-Jane Fogarty's new book, TUBOWGULE: A Sydney Opera House History, offers a rich and inclusive exploration of the land beneath one of Australia's most famous landmarks.
Illustrated by Dylan Finney, the book blends engaging storytelling with historical insights, using sidebars and additional information on each page to deepen the reader's understanding.
The book traces the history of Tubowgule (tube-uh-gahlee), a Darug word meaning "where the knowledge waters meet".
Ms Fogarty said she wanted to balance storytelling with truth-telling and ensure the book acknowledged the continuation of Aboriginal culture.
"I wanted truth-telling in there. I wanted people to know that there's history before 1788, but also that Aboriginal culture isn't just historical either," she said.
"It's continued throughout that whole time, and it's still here. Places like Tubowgule - while they have become sites of global recognition - remain significant for Aboriginal people."
Tubowgule was a ceremonial gathering place for the Gadigal people long before the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
The story follows the land's transformation, from its significance to Gadigal people, through British colonisation and settlement, to its present status as the site of the Sydney Opera House.
It also highlights the capture of Woollarawarre Bennelong, his role in bridging cultural divides, and his request for a brick hut on the site.
Ms Fogarty also aimed to make the book accessible to young readers while allowing them to explore deeper layers of history.
"I really wanted extra information in there, which is why we went with the sidebars," she said.
"I wanted to keep a narrative so when reading it to kids, you can just read that part and then go back and explore more."
Illustrator Dylan Finney worked closely with Ms Fogarty to bring the book's visuals to life.
She said she was fortunate to have input in the illustration process.
"My agent had it written into my contract that I would get a bit more input than most authors do," she said.
"When they told me they were reaching out to Dylan, I checked out his work and immediately said yes."
A striking moment in the book is a recreation of when actor and Bennelong descendant Ben Blakeney stood atop the Sydney Opera House and said the following;
"I am Bennelong, and my spirit, and the spirit of my people lives. And their dance, their music, and their drama and their laughter also remains."
Mr Blakeney made his declaration atop the Sydney Opera House during Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 1988.
Ms Fogarty hopes readers, especially children, walk away with a broader understanding of history.
"It's not just about colonisers arriving - it goes much further than that," she said.
"There's still a continuation of culture. We haven't been erased, and it will continue."
The book will be available for purchase from Wednesday, 26 March.
