Acknowledging a shared past: Sydney’s Eora Journey unveiled

The Purpose

Throughout the ongoing colonisation of Australia, Aboriginal peoples have faced significant injustices. Their communities have been dispossessed, and their culture and stories have often been dismissed, leading to their absence in conversations about national identity. By elevating the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Sydney aims to acknowledge a shared past and lay the groundwork for a future that embraces all Australians based on mutual respect and shared responsibility for the land.

The Challenge

Despite challenges of injustice, Aboriginal culture persists, and in recent years there has been a renewed enthusiasm to connect all Australians with Aboriginal history and living cultures. Sydney works hard to embrace the needs and aspirations of Sydney’s First Nations communities, recognising their impact and contribution.

Yananurala and the broader Eora Journey project have been designed so that Aboriginal businesses, cultural practitioners and communities will benefit socially and economically.

The Solution

The Eora Journey is a series of initiatives designed to recognise First Nations Australians in public art and the public domain. The name Eora Journey means ‘the people’s journey’ in the language of the Gadigal people, on whose land and waters the city is located. A key project within the Eora Journey is Yananurala, or ‘Walking on Country’ – a cultural intervention aimed at making the Aboriginal past and present visible along nine miles of the Sydney harbour foreshore.

Eight linked markers contain audio explanations of ‘Sitelines’, which are connections between sites of historical and cultural significance. Text-based ‘Conversations’ convey the hidden histories of 12 sites, and five public art projects reflect Aboriginal culture and history. Additionally, there will be an artist-led environmental project in partnership with universities and marine institutes, focusing on ‘badu’ or water, and acknowledging the country as land, water and sky.

The Yananurala program is a collaboration between the City of Sydney teams, including City Art, City Design, and Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, alongside the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, which approved the name and provided input into the project’s development. The project integrates city priorities, ranging from tourism development to social justice, into its plan.

The Impact

Sydney is a major tourist destination. Surveys since 2016 have revealed that most visitors hope to experience Aboriginal culture. Yananurala and the broader Eora Journey project have been designed so that Aboriginal businesses, cultural practitioners and communities will benefit socially and economically from this growing interest.

The Yananurala project and the ongoing Eora Journey demonstrate the city’s commitment to long-term collaboration with Aboriginal groups. In addition to creating a new layer of meaning in the city’s public spaces, it recognises that art and cultural activity are central to liveability, diversity, economic development and quality of life.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

Images Courtesy © City of Sydney