Book Review of Loving Country by Bruce Pascoe and Vicky Shukuroglou
In this ancient land, Australians often head overseas in search of antiquity. We travel to Europe and marvel at World Heritage sites, the Colosseum, the acropolis of Athens, or further south to the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. As a nation, we give heritage status to corrugated iron and wire fencing while destroying sacred sites, such as the Juukan Gorge, which contained evidence of Aboriginal culture tens of thousands of years old (Foster, 2020).
The 40,000-year-old stone fish traps in Brewarrina, north-west New South Wales are “arguably the oldest human construction on earth,” writes Pasco (2020). Further south, in Cuddie Springs, a stone dish used to grind grain for bread some 35,000 years ago can be found. Older still in Arnhem Land, a seed-grinding stone has now been carbon dated as being 65,000 years old (Pasco and Shukuroglou, 2020), suggesting Aboriginal Australians were the first humans to grind seed for flour and bread.
Pascoe and Shukuroglou’s beautifully photographed book invites readers to discover the ancient knowledge and history of these places long overlooked. Modern Australia continues to grapple with recognising and acknowledging the ancient culture it displaced and almost destroyed. In the pages of Loving Country (2020), we get to travel with Uncle Pascoe, and uncover the true stories and riveting yarns told best by those who know their Country deeply—the local Aboriginal people with continuing ancestral connections and obligations.
Loving Country (2020) exposes the hollowness of tokenistic gestures toward Aboriginal culture, weaving together ancient songlines and lore with the deep frustration and anger over the ongoing disregard and destruction of sacred sites. The generosity of custodians at each location makes Loving Country (2020) truly distinctive, showcasing the diversity among language groups and the resilience of Aboriginal cultural heritage. It powerfully illustrates how this heritage continues to survive and be passed on to younger generations, affirming it as the world’s oldest continuing culture.
Of course there has never been one generic ‘Aboriginal’ culture. It has always been a melding of different language groups in a rich historical landscape, much like Europe, without the conquest and expansionism. More than 200 language groups, co-existing for thousands of years, sharing space, sharing songlines and building treaties with each other based on mutual respect. While no language group is the same, they shared respect for each other's connection to Country, and for the interconnectedness of life, both human and non-human. The land is the law, and by not separating themselves from the land, they found ways to coexist not just with nature, but with other Indigenous nations.
Loving Country (2020) provides practical advice and details on how to connect with local Aboriginal guides and tour operators. It offers a gateway into exploring our ancient landscape through the eyes of those who know her best—the local custodians of the world’s oldest continuing culture.
References:
Foster S (16 December 2020) Ancient stories and enduring spirit: Loving Country reminds us of the wonders right under our noses. The Conversation, accessed 12 May 2025
Pasco B & Shukuroglou V (2020) Loving Country: a Guide to Sacred Australia, Hardie Grant Explore, Melbourne
Writer: Yuki Lindley
Editor: Liz Porporis