The Once Were Burrowers series by Lyn Graham concerns the drastic decline and extinction of Australia’s burrowing marsupials, largely because of habitat loss and predation by foxes and cats.

Once there were so many species of native marsupials, rats and mice playing their important role across the continent.

Millions of these little creatures improved the land with their burrows trapping water and leaf matter. Land that is now dry and dusty was once spongy underfoot.

The burrowers in these paintings are ghosts of those long gone, scurrying about a vast arid landscape.

The paintings are largely watercolour and charcoal on either 300 or 640 gsm cotton paper. They come framed in natural timber.

Lyn was inspired by the work of Wendy Loeffler, which she saw in the Broken Hill Regional Gallery. Wendy used earth and charcoal to depict the desert landscapes.

Once Were Burrowers was exhibited as part of the West End: Street to Sky exhibition in November 2025 at Vacant Assembly.