The Djarlgarro Beeliar (Canning River) is one of the main natural arteries that sustain Perth’s southern landscapes. From the confluence with the Derbarl Yerrigan to its headwaters in the hills, the Djarlgarro Beeliar is fed by several creeks, including the Yule and Bickley Brooks to the north, and Neerigen Brook, Wungong and Southern Rivers to the south. The river, its tributaries, the many wetlands and swamps – and the invisible, yet sustaining groundwater – are a fundamental part of the local environment and hold enormous cultural value.

Noongar knowledge and perspectives of the waterways have been gathered over the decades, often in the context of land development and associated heritage surveys. However, this information is scattered across multiple organizations and not easily accessible, including to the Noongar community itself.

In this presentation, we share the journey of an ongoing collaborative, interdisciplinary, Noongar co-led project that has gathered archival information about the Noongar values associated with the wetlands and waterways of the Djalgarro Beeliar catchment, and has invited the Noongar community to interpret, discuss and map the information gathered.

We share key reflections on the importance of working together and alongside Traditional Owners and the broader Noongar community in the planning, management and interpretation of wetlands and waterways. These ecosystems hold great cultural and heritage value, and they are crucial from an ecological and climate change adaptation perspective. As such, they should be prioritized for best practice in urban planning and water sensitive urban design, but also, importantly, for Reconciliation and social healing through placemaking and shared stewardship.