Survivors is a series of photographic portraits and recorded stories of local elders recalling life on the mission at Nanima, the Common, Bushranger's Creek and Curra Creek from the 1920s to the 70s.  

"I didn't realise the responsibility it involved when I took it on," Sydney-based artist and former local Asher Milgate said.

"It started so small having a yarn with the Aunties at first and it really just took on a life of its own."

"We are now making a proposal to the State Library and National Library."

“When I couldn’t go any further, I’d go to Damien and he’d take me to the people I needed to speak to,” Mr Milgate said.

Damien Kelly was one of the collaborators involved in the project.

“The feeling you get is just so overwhelming and a bit surreal,” Mr Kelly added.

“Asher has brought it from nothing into something -something that’s in front of everyone’s eyes and people are a part of it. They’re not just looking at it, they’re a part of it. That feeling is surreal and for Survivors it’s a good feeling,” he said.

Survivors is an eye-opener to Wellington’s past with many of the people interviewed finally speaking out about traumatic experiences.

There are also a lot of beautiful memories recorded about life in the Wellington area.

Mr Kelly said in some ways it could be considered part of a healing process.

“When people haven’t been together and talked about these things for a long time; when it is bringing it back to the front and people talk about it more, that is a healing process, speaking with each other.”

Mr Milgate said from a non-Indigenous perspective it fostered a deeper understanding of the Aboriginal community in Wellington.

“It is a little community that keeps to themselves, and this expresses that side.”

“People are scared of what they don't understand, but the more we know about each other the more we are able to appreciate differences rather than being fearful of these differences and I think that’s a big thing in life.”

“You have got to be open, you can’t be ‘this is how I’ve done it, this is what it is’, you'll lose being like that.”

The exhibition attracted 18 018 people in Dubbo, but this exhibition is tipped to be even more significant.

“I think it is special for the viewer to sit with the work or see one of the Aunties or Uncles come in and see their face on the wall,” he said.

The project took five years, but for Mr Milgate it is just the beginning, given Nanima’s history as the first inland mission and the rich oral history that continues in Wellington today.

“I put it together but I can’t say it is mine. Without the community we wouldn’t have this and they were so generous sharing their stories.”

“It started with nine men and nine women but I have got a lot more people to speak to -anyone who wants to be a part of it.”

It takes place at the Macquarie Theatre, 2pm on August 1.