A version of this essay appeared as Leslie, D. (2006). Coming home to the land. Eureka Street, March-April, 30-31.This essay is a tribute to artist Lin Onus. It explores and assesses his artistic legacy as a journey into a healing land; a place of refuge and Aboriginal tradition which encourages empathy. Onus’s painting is contemplated for the inspiration it presents, not only in regard to increased understanding of Aboriginal and cross-cultural Australian histories, but to the medium of painting as a way of bridging the cultural gap and transcending the limitations of history.