Eora Journey: Recognition in the public domain

Why we’re doing this

The Eora Journey: Recognition in the public domain program includes major public art projects created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to symbolise the Eora Journey.

The program identifies sites or histories of significance to recognise the living cultures of Aboriginal peoples and reflect the natural systems that have shaped and continue to shape Aboriginal cultural practices.

In 2010 Eora Journey curatorial advisor Hetti Perkins and architect Julie Cracknell carried out an international review of cultural interpretation practice. This review helped guide the development of the public art projects commissioned for the Eora Journey program.

The City of Sydney's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel plays a key role in Eora Journey projects. The projects are overseen by Eora Journey curator Emily McDaniel, and are part of the City Art public art program.

What we’re doing

The first artwork commissioned for the Eora Journey in 2012 was Reko Rennie's Welcome to Redfern, which he transformed with the help of local young Aboriginal peoples. In 2013 Nicole Foreshew’s born in darkness before dawn was projected onto the Australian Museum for 4 months.

Ahead of the Anzac centenary in 2015, we unveiled a major artwork in Hyde Park to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women.

Yininmadyemi (pronounced yinn-in-madj-amee), Thou didst let fall, by Aboriginal artist Tony Albert was the third artwork commissioned under the Eora Journey. It features four 1.5t bullets standing 7m tall and 3 fallen shells to represent the diggers who returned to Australia and the ones who lost their lives. The artwork references the circumstances faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women when they returned to Australia.

In May 2022 Judy Watson’s bara was the fourth public artwork to be unveiled. This permanent artwork on the Tarpeian Precinct Lawn above Dubbagullee (Bennelong Point) celebrates Eora Fisherwomen and the traditional custodians of Gadigal Country and the clans of the Eora Nation.

In 2019 Aboriginal curator Emily McDaniel provided recommendations for a storytelling harbour walk. Yananurala – Walking on Country is a series of interconnected stories and artworks that will enliven the 9km Sydney Harbour foreshore, from Pirrama (Pyrmont) to Wallamool (Woolloomooloo) and Bayingua (Garden Island).