Albany ANZAC Peace Park, Munster Avenue, Albany WA, Australia
First Lights – Kinjarling
Kim Scott
Cass Lynch
6, 7 & 8 March 2026
Albany ANZAC Peace Park
See the night sky above Albany come alive with light, sound and voice.
Date and time
6, 7 & 8 March 2026
7pm (Doors 6pm)
Entry
FREE
Accessibility
Date and time
6, 7 & 8 March 2026
7pm (Doors 6pm)
Entry
FREE
Accessibility
First Lights – Kinjarling presented for Albany 2026 is a major new series of immersive experiences along ancestral pathways, led by Menang knowledge-holders and artists.
First Lights – Kinjarling brings Albany’s first stories into the skies, using cutting-edge drone technology to illuminate ancient narratives shared by Menang Elders. Presented as a trilogy across three days and nights, First Lights – Kinjarling will begin with guided cultural reflections and sound journeys across Menang Country in Kinjarling Reflections, followed by three spectacular drone light shows connecting story, constellations and place.
First Lights – Kinjarling has been created by Menang Custodians Averil and Lindsay Dean, Vernice Gillies, Larry Blight, Iris Woods and Olivia Roberts with Noongar artists Kim Scott and Cass Lynch.
FIRST LIGHTS – KINJARLING | DRONE LIGHT SHOWS
The night sky above Albany will come alive with light, sound, and voice. Each night a new drone light show will tell a unique Menang story, blending culture, history, and landscape with state-of-the-art drone choreography. Together, they reveal Albany as a place of deep cultural significance, resilience, and connection.
Night 1: Fri 6 March: Kaawar – Koi Kyenunu-Ruff (Stirling Ranges)
Inspired by Averil and Lindsay Dean with Kim Scott, this show brings one of the great Creation Stories of the Stirling Ranges to life, offering alternative perspectives on these ancient peaks and their enduring spiritual significance.
Night 2: Sat 7 March: Borongur (Porongurups)
Told through the voices of Vernice Gillies and Larry Blight with Cass Lynch, this story explores the Porongurup mountain range as a place of totems and rain, alive with Gondwanan species and ancient songs. Through the eyes of a granite peak, a trapdoor spider, and the moon, the story reflects on time, home-building, and the endurance of culture.
Night 3: Sun 8 March: Mamang Koort (Frenchman’s Bay area)
Written by Kim Scott and Iris Woods with Olivia Roberts, Mamang Koort draws upon a south coast whale Creation Story. Drawing upon a tradition of maritime visits and a deep humanity, it opens space for reflection and hope in 2026 and beyond.
Artists: Kim Scott, Cass Lynch
Creative Producer: Ilona McGuire
Cultural Leads: Averil Dean, Lindsay Dean, Vernice Gillies, Larry Blight, Iris Woods, Olivia Roberts.
Sound Design: Ned Beckley, Rachel Claudio and Josh Hogan
Narration: Kim Scott, Cass Lynch
Animation: Drone Show Store
Technical Partners: Stellar Lights & Elite Lighting
First Lights – Kinjarling is presented by Fremantle Biennale and supported by Lotterywest and the City of Albany as part of the Albany 2026 program.
About the artists
Kim Scott
Kim Scott is an award-winning novelist, having twice won the Miles Franklin Award (for Benang and That Deadman Dance) along with many other Australian literary prizes. Kim was 2012 West Australian of the Year, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, a member of the Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame and in 2022 was declared a State Cultural Treasure. He is currently Curtin University Distinguished Professor in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry.
Proud to be on among those who call themselves Noongar, Kim’s is convenor of Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories (www.wirlomin.com.au) which is responsible for a number of bilingual (Noongar and English) picture books and regional performances of story and song. Two books, A Companion to the Works of Kim Scott (Camden House, 2016) and Kim Scott: language, readers and interpretation (UWAP, 2019) deal with aspects of his writing and career.
Cass Lynch
Cass Lynch is a Koreng Wudjari Noongar woman descended from the families of Ravensthorpe in the Great Southern region. She is a writer and research fellow, and has a PhD in Creative Writing that explores Noongar stories that reference climate change. She is a member of the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories group who focus on the revitalisation of culture and language connected to south coast Noongar people. She is the co-founder of the Aboriginal literature project Woylie Fest, which facilitates bringing Noongar stories into print and training community members to be presenters. Her Noongar language haikus, published in Westerly 64.1, won the 2019 Patricia Hackett Prize. Her audio storytelling works have been featured at Perth Festival, Arts House Melbourne, CCA Glasgow, and PICA. Her short story ‘Split’, a creative impression of deep time Perth, can be found in the UQP publication Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now.
Event Information:
6pm: Doors / Event area open
7pm: Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
7.30pm: Drone Light Show
8pm: Event concludes
This is an outdoor event, with limited shelter available. It takes place at night, and there may be some walking involved. We recommend bringing a picnic blanket for the grassed areas, and your own low seating if required. We recommend wearing warm, comfortable clothing, and bringing along plenty of water.
Food & Drink: Food and drink won’t be food available at the event, but we encourage you to bring along a picnic, or support local businesses by booking dinner before or after, or collecting takeaway on your way through town.
Road Closures:
Road and parking closures will be in place along part of Toll Place (from Albany Town Jetty) from 4pm – 8pm.
Viewing Locations: The best viewing locations to see First Lights – Kinjarling is at Albany ANZAC Peace Park as shown in the event map below.
Weather: This event is highly dependent on weather conditions and will not go ahead in the event of rain or strong winds. Follow @first_lights on Facebook and Instagram pages for live announcements.
Latecomers: We recommend arriving early to allow time for parking and to get a good viewing spot. The duration of the drone show is only 20 minutes, so arriving late means you might miss out!
Pedestrian Access: Audiences are encouraged to use the Footbridge from Stirling Terrace to access the park, rather than crossing at Princess Royal Drive. Its harvest season and with the additional trucks on the road crossing at this intersection might take a bit longer!
Triggers: Viewers are warned that this performance will include flashing lights. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this work may contain references to deceased people.
Facilities: Public toilets including accessible toilets are available at the event.
Parking:
Event Parking is available along Albany Port Road from the Albany Entertainment Centre down to the Albany Boat Shed. Additional parking is available in car parks along Stirling Terrace and Frederick St, as well as numerous street parking bays in Albany town centre.
Pedestrian Access: Audiences are encouraged to use the Footbridge from Stirling Terrace to access the park, rather than crossing at Princess Royal Drive. Its harvest season and with the additional trucks on the road crossing at this intersection might take a bit longer.
Parking Closures:
Road/parking closure will be in place along Toll Place (cnr Albany Town Jetty) from 4pm – 8pm.
Event Area:
The event area has some uneven terrain, including grassed areas.
There is an accessible footpath which runs through the Event Area. Event Staff will be on site to direct patrons to accessible viewing areas as required.
Parking:
The nearest ACROD parking can be found at the car park directly adjacent on Albany Port Road. See Map link here. Additional ACROD bays will be reserved at this site as the accessible drop-off area. The parking bays are located are short 5-minute walk from the Event Site.
Toilets:
Accessible ACROD toilet facilities will be available at the event site.
Feature: Kirli Saunders, First Lights – Buungbaa-ma-ndhu, 2023. Commissioned by Ngununggula and Fremantle Biennale. Photo: Brian Ramsey.
Gallery: Kim Scott, First Lights – Binalup (2023). Courtesy of the artist and Fremantle Biennale. Photo: Jarrad Russell.
Partners
Principal Partners
Presenting Partners