Showcasing Indigenous Design and Technology to Younger Audiences

Did you know that the world’s first bread was baked in Australia?  

Design & Building on Country: First Knowledges for Younger Readers showcases fascinating Aboriginal design and technology knowledge from 65,000 years ago to modern times. This book, adapted from First Knowledges Design, provides younger readers with insight into the inventions from the world’s oldest living culture – including chapters on connection between objects and Country, the essential tools required for living on Country, and modern Aboriginal architecture and design.  

Designer and artist Alison Page from the Dharawal and Yuin Nations collaborated with Ngarrngga Expert Advisory Panel Member, Professor Paul Memmott to share this knowledge, alongside beautiful illustrations by Blak Douglas.  

“Contemporary Aboriginal leaders have asked me to pass back the First Nations knowledge that I've been given by my old Aboriginal teachers over 40 or 50 years ago, who were all Elders at that time, but who have all long passed away. I do this in different ways so that the younger generations benefit, but one important way is through this book.

Australian society is ready to change in recognition that within our continent, we all live on Country, the old Country that has been under Aboriginal custodianship for 70,000 years. (I use the capital C to denote this.) All Australian young people are invited to learn about Country. So, one of my motivations is to teach what being on Country can mean for them.” - Professor Paul Memmott, Ngarrngga Expert Advisory Panel Member.

Design & Building on Country: First Knowledges for Younger Readers stood out as a great text for the Ngarrngga curriculum team as it adapted the Indigenous knowledge for students, ensuring it is engaging and digestible to read while maintaining Indigenous Cultural intellectual Property. 

“Design & Building on Country is a great book to get younger readers interested in First Knowledges and discover more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history. I’d recommend students aged 8-12 to read the book, especially those with a keen interest in Design and Technology and Science.”  - Steven Kolber, Ngarrngga Curriculum Writer.   

You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://thamesandhudson.com.au/product/design-and-building-on-country-first-knowledges-for-younger-readers/.