Bombay Display Board: Overview
The full display of the Bombay
On 12th October 2025, Bombay Landcare Group unveiled their new display board at the local Bombay reserve (otherwise known as the Little Bombay Recreation Area). The Reserve is a popular swimming spot on the Shoalhaven river, located along Bombay Road, west of Braidwood NSW. This overview provides the background information and facts on how the display board was created and installed.
The Design:
The display board is titled 'The Bombay Reserve And Region' showcasing the popular swimming spot on the Shoalhaven river, as well as the information on the surrounding district.
The front side of the sign depicts a detailed hand-drawn district map, featuring with local landmarks, roads, plants and animals. Surrounding the map are beautiful illustrations, again hand-drawn, of threatened woodland birds and local plants species. Read more about the local Bombay birds and plants at:
Surrounding the illustrations are a beautiful welcome and acknowledgement of Country in the local Dhurga language, kindly supplied by traditional knowledge holders:
Walawaani njindiwan bardjamba gagurr... Welcome everyone to the swimming hole
Bagan njinj mirriwarr njinj… mudjingaal njinj ngayaga njinj… ngayawanj yaway manadha mana… manggaadawalbandja yuin midandhal ngumbudhaa bagan njinj...
Here is the earth, here is the sky… Here are my friends and here am I... We come here hand in hand… To respect the first people of this land.
Front Side of the Bombay Display Board as seen at Bombay Reserve
The reserve side of the sign features ten columns, each with a particular theme, and goes into more detail about the history and facts of the Bombay region. This includes:
- First Nations - Traditional owners, language, totems and dreaming stories
- Colonials - First explorers, settlers and industries in the Bombay district
- Glorious - Gold rush era and mining activities during the 19th and early 20th centuries
- Notorious - Local stories of bushrangers the Clarke Gang
- Geology - Soil and rocks underpinning the Bombay landscape
- Flora - Local plant communities and how species change as you progress from the river into the Tallaganda range
- Fauna - Interesting animals found in the river and Tallaganda range
- Bridge - History of the Bombay bridge crossing
- River - Mighty Shoalhaven River and how is was almost dammed
- Recreation - A brief history of at the Reserve at Bombay
Reverse Side of the Bombay Display Board as seen at Bombay Reserve
Start Reading the Column Information HERE
History:
- Idea for signage at the Reserve was first floated by Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council with Bombay Landcare Group in July 2019
- The devastating North Black Range Fire in November 2019 burnt through most of the reserve and provided additional motivation to proceed with the project. The new display board was to compliment the rehabilitation work taking place at the Bombay Reserve and new infrastructure installed by WaterNSW.
- The goal was to complete and install the sign by the end 2022, but is finally completed almost 3 years later!
- Project scope morphed from a simple map and illustration of local flora and fauna to an information board showcasing the history and landmarks of the Bombay region.
Project Timeline:
- July 2019 - Project officially adopted by Bombay Landcare Group
- 2020 - Discussions with WaterNSW, Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council, Braidwood Community Association and Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council discussed upgrades to the site after bushfire damage.
- December 2020 - Local Landcare Coordinator Rebecca Klomp & community member Don Jones get the go ahead from WaterNSW about interpretive signage at the Reserve. Don made contact with artist Chris Payne. WaterNSW kindly offered to support the sign project.
- 2021 – The Botanical Illustrator, Chris Payne, and craftsman Michael Gill engaged and started the design.
- April 2022 - Chris & Michael completed the draft map and sketches of birds and plants for the front side of the sign.
- July 2022 – Public consultation and research phase commenced with Upper Shoalhaven Landcare, followed by several Bombay Landcare group meetings to discuss design and text elements over the next 2-3 years.
- March 2023 – Colouring of illustrations completed, and text drafting commenced.
- July 2023 – WaterNSW approved installation design and announced additional support by covering costs for display board printing and installation.
- September 2024 – Bombay Landcare receives Bendigo Braidwood Community Bank with $11,000 grant awarded. Special thanks Treasurer Don Woods for the successful grant application.
- November 2024 - Dhurga language expert Kerry Boyenga provides help with traditional language components.
- March 2025 - Final push to compile research, text and photos, including special contributions from the local Grant family.
- May 2025 - Final artwork and text taken to Top Shot Printing in Goulburn for scanning, digitization and graphic design.
- June 2025 - Concrete slab poured on site by Water NSW and local contractors Steve Waters
- 9 July 2025 - Sign frame and shelter installed by WaterNSW.
- September 2025 - Final display board graphic design complete after several iterations and sent to WaterNSW for printing.
- 9 October 2025 – Display board delivered and installed in the frame on site.
- 12 October 2025 - Celebratory unveiling event with local community, Bombay Landcare, WaterNSW, Braidwood Community Bank, speeches, morning tea and artists Chris and Michael cutting the ribbon.
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Concrete slab installed by WaterNSW in June 2025 |
Frame fabricated by RSK welding installed by WaterNSW in July 2025 |
Sign printed and installed by WaterNSW team on 9 October 2025 |
Consultation:
- The Consultation phase was launched in July 2022 with a presentation to the Braidwood Community Association, run by Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council
- A call for locals to share their knowledge of the history, geography and ecology of the region was made, with local historian Mike Merrony proving several useful texts
- Kerry Boyenga and her sister, both Brinja-Yuin women and authors of Dhurga language dictionary based in Moruya, provided advice on Dhurga language components and the beautiful acknowledgement to Country
- The Batemans bay Local Aboriginal Land Council also kindly looked over the First Nations content of the sign
- Braidwood Historical Society and Museum provided access to text and images
- Grant family local knowledge, records and photographs
- Dr Leah Moore, Fenner School of Environment and Society ANU, supported the group by conducting two workshops on the local geology of the area to help inform the geology column
- Kelly Bourke and team at Top Shot Printing and Framing supported with digital graphic design and potential merchandise
Chris and Michael presenting the draft display board to Bombay Landcare group on 23 July 2023
Acknowledgements and Artists:
Special thanks to all the Bombay Landcare volunteers who contributed to this information board, especially Treasurer Don Woods for progressing grants and construction, chair Carmen Bryne and Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Coordinator Erin Brinkley for support with research and project management, as well as Sara Hogg and Bronwyn Johnson for editing.
We’d also like to acknowledge the invaluable support of Kerry Boyenga, Durga language consultant, TopShot Printing and Framing for digital design, Melita Milner and Andy Taylor from Local Land Services in Braidwood, Amanda and Jacob from WaterNSW for printing and installation, Sam and Rhyce of RSK Welding for fabrications of the frame.
With admiration, the credit for the beautiful illustrations and design goes to Christine Payne and Michael Gill.
Chris Payne worked as full-time botanical illustrator at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, The National Botanic Gardens in Canberra and for the CSIRO. Her partner since 1971, Michael Gill is an artist/craftsman/designer/maker, specialising in wood and glass, lecturing at the ANU School of Art's Woodwork Studio for 14 years.
They live and work on their 57 hectare Wildlife Refuge in Reidsdale, NSW and co-ordinate the Sheep Station Creek Landcare Group. Chris and Michael are infamous for their environmental activism, their 10+ years on Braidwood Community Radio and their wildlife rescue work, specialising in snakes. Chris is also known locally for her illustrated map of The Mongarlowe "The Little" River, created for The Friends of the Mongarlowe River.
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Chris Payne hand-drawing map elements in 2024 |
Michael Gill finalizing the artwork layout in May 2025 |
Kelly Bourke, Michael Gill and Christine Payne with the final artwork ready for scanning at the printers at Top Shot in Goulburn in May 2025 |
Stakeholders:
- Residents of Bombay, Braidwood & surrounds
- Local Indigenous Communities - Kerry Boyenga and Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Bombay Landcare Group
- Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council
- Project support, research, design and compilation - Local Landcare Coordinator Erin Brinkley
- Artist, Designers and researchers - Christine Payne and Michael Gill
- RSK Welding and Fabrication, Braidwood - Rhyce and Sam
- Top Shot Printing and Framing, Goulburn - Kelly Bourke
- WaterNSW - Jacob Adams, Amanda Dike, Mary Knowles
- Bendigo Community Bank Braidwood
Major Sponsors:
- Bendigo Community Bank Braidwood
- WaterNSW
- Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council
- Bombay Landcare Group
Challenges:
- Distilling the wonderful input from locals into a succinct and enjoyable narrative.
- Validating/referencing information for accuracy
- Corroboration of local First Nations History
- Focusing the board on the Bombay region only
- Logistics with slab pouring and frame installation
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Artists Christine Payne and Michael Gill Unveil the Sign. Photo G King |
Local Bombay Landcarers and Project Partners admire the Sign after it's unveiled. Photo G King |
The Gathering at Bombay Reserve after the sign is unveiled. Photo G King |
This Bombay Landcare Information Board project was proudly co-funded by Bendigo Community Bank Braidwood, WaterNSW
Bombay Landcare Group and Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council. With Special thanks to Sheep Station Creek Landcare's Christine Payne and Michael Gill for illustrations and design. Artwork © 2025 C Payne & M Gill. All rights reserved.