Legend has it that in the Dreamtime—the mythical time of creation for Aboriginal people—two rain-making ancestors from the Jangala family called down rain with their songs, triggering a huge storm.

The storm moved across their clan territory with a thunderous noise produced by lightning. It merged with another storm and was seized by a brown falcon ancestor (kirrkarlanji), who let it fall on Purlungyanu, another sacred place where a very large swamp formed. 

Later, when it reached Puyurru, the bird dug Warnayarra—a giant rainbow snake—out of the ground. The snake carried water with it, which gave birth to Lake Jillyiumpa.