A World Beneath The Sea

GLaWAC is pleased to support a special screening of The Land Bridge, a compelling documentary that uncovers the ancient history of the Bass Strait land bridge.

Taking audiences back 40,000 years, this film explores a time when Gippsland and Lutruwita/Tasmania were connected by a vast grassy plain—home to First Nations peoples who lived, travelled, and thrived on Country.

This exclusive event at the Forge Theatre in Bairnsdale on Saturday, 12 April, will include a post-screening panel discussion featuring Gunaikurnai cultural knowledge holders, project producers, and leading experts in deep-time environmental history.

Created by Wind & Sky Productions in collaboration with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, The Land Bridge blends Indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge research in marine environments, archaeology, palaeoecology, and history to bring this hidden landscape back to life. The film highlights the enduring connection of the Gunaikurnai, Palawa, and Bunurong peoples to this submerged world, ensuring that these important stories continue to be shared.

GLaWAC’s General Manager of Culture, Grattan Mullett, says the documentary offers an opportunity to reflect on Country’s changing landscapes and the stories embedded within them.

“The Bassian Plain, now the land bridge under Bass Strait, has been an important cultural landscape for Gunaikurnai for countless generations. Though our spiritual connection may not be visible, we are proud to be able to share the stories of our Ancestors and honour those that walked before us.”

Following the screening, a panel discussion will allow the audience to hear directly from Gunaikurnai knowledge holders, contributing scientists, and film producers Lucinda Horrocks and Jary Nemo.

This is a rare opportunity to experience the intersection of culture, history, and science in a powerful storytelling event.