Peter Gooloou Thomas / Chinaman’s Garden – Alice Downs (19866)

Peter Gooloou Thomas was born in 1975 in Wyndham, Western Australia, and grew up on Gija Country in the East Kimberley. His father, Paddy Thomas, passed away when Peter was still a young boy, and much of his upbringing was guided by his mother, Mary Thomas, and by the respected Warmun elders Madigan and Sandy Thomas.

Peter’s mother, Mary, was renowned in the community as a gifted bush medicine expert and healer. She carried an extraordinary depth of knowledge of Gija Country – every plant, its name, its medicinal properties, and its preparation and use. Her wisdom and cultural teachings left a profound impression on Peter and continue to inspire his life and art.

As a child, Peter and his brothers were often taken out bush by the old people. These trips sometimes lasted weeks and were a vital part of their education. They learned language, Dreaming stories, songs and dance, as well as the skills needed to live on country – tracking, reading the land, survival skills, and traditional bush medicine. Peter’s cultural journey began early; at just five years old, he performed the Joonba dance for the first time during the celebrations for the opening of the Warmun school.

Today, Peter is a cultural leader in his community, committed to passing on the knowledge, traditions and stories that were entrusted to him. He continues to guide younger generations, ensuring the strength and continuity of Gija culture and law.

Peter and two of his brothers also served their country as part of the all-Gija Kimberley Squadron in the Australian Army. In 2019, the service of Gija men in the military was formally recognised in a special medal ceremony at Warmun, presented by war hero Mr Keith Payne VC AM and Major Mac Jensen OAM RFD JP – a moving moment for Peter and his community.

Peter began painting in March 2024 and has quickly established himself as an exciting new voice in contemporary Gija art. His work has a raw, naïve energy that feels immediate and unfiltered, with bold ochre colours, strong silhouettes and dotted borders that speak to both tradition and personal storytelling. His paintings draw on Joonba stories, Juwari (Devil Spirit) figures, ancestral narratives and the rugged landscapes of his country. He also honours the memory of his late mother by depicting the stories she shared with him. Peter’s innovative style has resonated strongly with collectors, and his works have been in high demand since his debut.

In his first year as an artist, Peter achieved remarkable recognition:

• 2024 – Finalist, Lester Prize
• 2024 – Honourable Mention, Napier Waller Art Prize

In 2025, Peter was selected as one of the Rising Stars at the prestigious Outstation Gallery exhibition in Darwin, further cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary Aboriginal art.

Beyond painting, Peter has created a line of wearable art showcasing his creativity and connection to culture in new ways.

This painting depicts Chinaman’s Garden, an important place on Alice Downs Station in the East Kimberley and part of the traditional Birrno Country of Peter’s late mother, Mary Thomas. Mary was born in this area and carried a deep connection to the Country throughout her life.

Chinaman’s Garden is remembered for its striking landscape of hills and rocky outcrops that sit within the rugged Kimberley terrain. In this work, Peter uses natural ochre pigments to represent the landforms and distinctive features of the Country, capturing the colours and character of the place that was so important to his mother and her family.

The painting also acknowledges a tragic chapter in the history of this Country. Chinaman’s Garden was the site of a massacre of Gija people during the early pastoral period. The black form in the foreground marks the place where members of Peter’s family and community lost their lives, while the black cave within the hills references the hiding place of a young Gija boy who survived the massacre and later recounted what had occurred.

Today, Chinaman’s Garden remains a place of great cultural significance. Through this painting, Peter honours the beauty of his mother’s Country, while also remembering the strength, resilience and survival of the Gija people whose stories remain embedded within the landscape.