Billilia and the Boomerang Billabong: Regenerative landscape approaches through Country

BACKGROUND: This article explores a developing body of research in which landscape, as a constructed idea, can be enriched by thinking through the concept of Country. Rethinking landscape through Country can lead us to a new practice that emphasizes recognition and respect. Two of the authors, Gilbert and Pearce have collaborated on project work including writing across a number of years which addresses the contributions to the discipline of landscape architecture that can be made from an Indigenous knowledge perspective. This piece broadens this out with contributions from landscape practice and regenerative agriculture. CONTRIBUTION: The work draws on a traditional Indigenous story of creation , setting this against the governance-oriented approach underpinning much of normative landscape practice and concomitant landscape development. In doing so, New knowledge is generated through this article around Australian landscape architectural practice and it’s engagement with Indigenous knowledge developed through relationality. In doing so, practice is necessarily moved to consider itself embedded in relationships particular to a landscape, challenging the profession to move beyond the world of formalized checklists, manuals and technocratic solutions to issues of sustainability and environmental concern, challenging the concept of a stewardship empty of the agency of design. SIGNIFICANCE: Landscape Australia is the pre-eminent quarterly journal addressing issues of national significance through landscape endorsed by the AIA, PIA and AILDM. Articles are archived in major databases including Informit Australian Public Affairs Full Text and the journal is listed in Ulrichs Global Serials Directory. Emily Wong, the editor of Landscape.