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The Rainbow Serpent

About Our Logo

The rainbow serpent/snake is a major mythological being for Aboriginal people across Australia, although the creation stories associated with it are best known from northern Australia. Such is its significance that it has been described as "an agent of destiny" for Aboriginal people.

It is a being often known to inhabit deep waterholes and is the underlying Aboriginal mythology for the famous Outback "bunyip". It is known both as a benevolent protector of its people (the groups from the country around) and as a malevolent punisher of law breakers. The rainbow serpent's mythology is closely linked to land, water, life, social relationships and fertility.

There are innumerable names and stories associated with the serpent, all of which communicate the significance and power of this being within Aboriginal traditions.

The serpent is associated with major, "high" ceremonies, and much of the underlying mythology is restricted. Representations of the rainbow serpent are found in many regions and in many forms. Some of these representations are ascribed a human origin, many others are considered to be "shades" or essences of the serpent itself left in the country during its travels. These places, along with the many waterholes and other places associated with the serpent's activities, hold special significance as sacred places to Aboriginal people.

The NLC's "dragon" logo is taken from a painting depicting a western Kunwinjku (West Arnhem Land) manifestation of the Rainbow Serpent. It was painted by a deceased Kunwinjku artist, who came from the Kamarrang subsection of the Born clan of the Marrkolidjban estate on the Liverpool River.

The artist approved limited changes to his design - replacing some areas of cross-hatching with solid blocks of colour - for the purpose of reproduction as the NLC logo.