Forty three years ago, artist Brett Whiteley, camping at The Drip gorge with fellow artists, stripped off and waded into the Goulburn River to painted figures inspired by indigenous art on an overhanging cliff.
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The moment was captured on film by experimental filmmaker and fellow artist, Peter Kingston, who had brought Whiteley to The Drip as part of a group of artists.
“A fellow at Gulgong had told me about The Drip and I thought it was the most beautiful place,” Mr Kingston said.
“We camped two nights here, painting and drawing.
“One day Brett suddenly threw his clothes off and painted the figures on the cliff – much to my horror.
“But that was Brett, that was what he did.”
Mr Kingston was unaware that they had survived 43 years of weather and floods until he was contacted in 2009 by Julia Imrie, spokeswoman for the Save The Drip campaign, who had heard about his film.
“I was very shocked when Julie Imrie contacted me,” said Mr Kingston, who had heard that someone had tried to scrub the paintings away and had assumed they were long gone.
Mr Kingston returned The Drip on Saturday with artist Elisabeth Cummings, who was also part of the 1970 group, along with photographer Jan Cork and artist Peter Wright.
Mr Kingston supported calls by the Mudgee District Environment Group and Nature Conservation Council for the State Government to include The Drip in a national park.
“It’s not asking a lot to have it included in a national park,” he said.
“The idea of building a tunnel under the river horrifies me
“We just need an enlightened government who will think of future generations.”
