The sounds and images of whales thrilled a crowd of almost 2000 spectators on Saturday night, as the first-ever Tallo Billa sound and light show was staged at Mooloolaba Beach on the Sunshine Coast.
Tallo-Billa (meaning ‘Humpback Whale’ in the local Kabi Kabi language) fused the sounds of humpback whale songs recorded off Mooloolaba with digital imagery and Indigenous cultural interpretation.
Conceived by Kabi Kabi artist Lyndon Davis, the project has been developed in collaboration with sound artist Dr Leah Barclay and photographer Dr Tricia King at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The project brings together Indigenous knowledge, emerging science, creative practice, and innovative technology to translate the calls of whales into imagery that was projected onto a screen on the golden sands of Mooloolaba Beach.
The launch event started with a First Nations performance from Kabi Kabi artist Lyndon Davis, whose stories, knowledge and didgeridoo playing created a memorable multi-sensory cultural experience.
The whale songs used in the performance were recorded by Dr Barclay aboard Sunreef’s Whale One from migrating humpback whales which are already traversing the east coast of Australia on their way to the breeding grounds off the Queensland coast.
Up to 40,000 whales are expected to pass by the Sunshine Coast between May and November. The Sunshine Coast is a significant point on this migration, with many whales stopping to rest, interact and give birth in the area.
Dr Leah Barclay is world renowned for composing complex sonic environments and audio-visual works that draw attention to changing climates and fragile ecosystems. Leah’s augmented reality sound installations have been presented across the world, from Times Square in New York City to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
New whale experience product announced for 2025
As part of the launch of Tallo Billa, the Sunshine Coast’s whale tourism operators have announced new experiences for 2025.
- Leading dive and marine tours operator Sunreef will operate Tallo Billa: Deep Listening at Dusk cruises on 24 August, and 21 and 28 September. These small-group cruises from The Wharf Mooloolaba will include deep listening of whale song through hydrophones, mixed live by Dr Leah Barclay with storytelling and didgeridoo by Lyndon Davis. https://www.sunreef.com.au/deep-listening-at-dusk/
- A highlight of the season will be a Tallo Billa event on 13 September hosted onboard Sunreef’s Whale One, comprising whale watching at dusk before settling at Mudjimba Island to experience live whale song, First Nations storytelling and cymatic projections onto the rock face of Mudjimba Island. https://www.sunreef.com.au/tallo-billa/
- The Pressure Project will host three week-long immersive Whale Weeks during the season, offering a deep dive into whales. The small group programs offer daily swim with whales experiences, guided by skilled ocean lovers. Outside the water, Whale Week includes daily practices and workshops like breathwork, meditation, ocean education, photography chats, and ice baths—designed to enrich the experience both physically and mentally. https://www.thepressureproject.com.au/event/whale-week-swim-with-whales/
Whale watching tours are available on the Sunshine Coast through till October with operators including Sunreef, Epic Ocean Adventures, Cavalier Cruises, Adventure Rafting Mooloolaba and Noosa Thriller Ocean Adventures. Sunreef also offers ‘Swimming with Whales’ experiences throughout the season.
