The History and culture of Australia’s Indigenous people is today estimated to be 40,000 years old. It was largely destroyed with the arrival of European settlers. According to Aboriginal mythology, the earth and all life were created during the Dreamtime, when their ancestors walked across the land, rendering their surroundings as songs and melodies and thereby creating the world. Even today, Aboriginal people follow these songlines, which often cross the entire continent from coast to coast, using the melodies passed down from generation to generation. These melodies serve as a map; the song and the land are identical, and singing them incorrectly is a serious offence. Striking landmarks along such paths often point to significant events in the lives of their ancestors and are considered sacred sites subject to strict laws. This also includes Uluru, known as Ayers Rock, in the Kata Tjuta National Park, where every visitor can sense the spirit and power of this place.

All images from the ‘World Images’ edition