Binlalup Manang Exhibition Shines Light on Menang Elders and History in Albany

A significant photographic exhibition in Albany, Western Australia, is bringing the often-overlooked history of the Menang people into the spotlight as part of the town’s bicentenary celebrations. Titled Binlalup Manang: First Light First People, the project features 30 portraits of Menang people, primarily Elders, captured by Denmark-based photographer Nic Duncan. Reported by Geoff Vivian for the Koori Mail on 15 July 2026, the exhibition aims to provide a more inclusive narrative of the region’s history. Menang Elder Carol Pettersen, who collaborated with Ms. Duncan on the project, stated that the initiative tells the story of how much First Nations people contributed to building the state—contributions she notes are frequently missing from traditional history books. Ms. Pettersen observed that prior to the 1967 referendum, Aboriginal people were often treated as invisible in historical records despite their vital work on the land. The project was conceived in 2024 when Ms. Pettersen and Ms. Duncan were camping together and discussed the upcoming 2026 bicentenary. They decided to use Ms. Duncan’s portraiture to shine a positive light on the Menang community. In an empowering move, the subjects were given total control over the process, choosing locations for their photographs that held precious childhood memories. The resulting portraits are accompanied by transcribed life stories detailing experiences of resistance, survival, and achievement. Beyond the photographs, the exhibition highlights the historical labour of Menang people who worked as shepherds and built dams and fences, often without wages. Ms. Pettersen described this work as a form of "spiritual blessing" that allowed them to maintain their connection to the land. Organisers are now in negotiations to bring the exhibition to Perth for the 2029 State bicentenary and are planning to produce a book to preserve these vital stories for future generations.