The stories of three Nations

During National Reconciliation Week 2020, we’ll be profiling some of the great projects across Transport that are working in partnership with Aboriginal communities.

Garry Ferguson, Senior Aboriginal Engagement Specialist Northern and his team are working in partnership with local Aboriginal artists, knowledge holders and Elders to share and tell their stories through artwork.

Learn about the ‘Songlines Driveway’ Art Trail as Garry shares how this project is strengthening and developing relationships up and down the highway.

What’s the ‘Songlines Driveway’ Art Trail?

The Woolgoolga to Ballina is Australia’s largest regional infrastructure project and follows a number of traditional Songlines - the trade routes and ceremonial paths of Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung Nations. Essentially the first roads on the far north coast of NSW.

The ‘Songlines Driveway’ Art Trail project will show local Aboriginal artwork in 13 locations between Woolgoolga and Ballina.

Telling their stories

The Songlines and stories of creation have been around long before the Pacific Highway.

By sharing the stories from the local artists, we’re developing partnerships and strengthening relationship across three Nations. It’s a great opportunity to work with the local Aboriginal community so they can share and tell their stories that relate to their Country.

The displayed artwork is one way for the stories and culture within the three Nations to continue on, and for the younger people coming through to learn and hold onto these stories.

A learning experience for all

The ‘Songlines Driveway’ shares the cultural stories of the different areas with the broader community - making their journey on the highway a more enjoyable one. This exciting project also provides opportunity to learn off each other and share some of the world’s oldest continuing cultures stories.

The stories being shared through the artwork are very important to the local Aboriginal community and provides a way to share some of the local Aboriginal history of the area with the travelling public so they gain a better understanding of the area they are travelling through.

If we care for Country, it will care for us

The success of this initiative has been supported by guiding principles of Transports Beyond the Pavement and the NSW Government Architects framework which acknowledges Australian Aboriginal peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to place and their rich contribution to our society.

To that end, all our work should seek to uphold the idea that if we care for Country, it will care for us.

It’s an exciting and positive project I can’t wait to see the finished product.

More information Transport

Transport has announced the local Aboriginal artists for the ‘Songlines Driveway’.

For more information about the ‘Songlines Driveway’ please email Natasha Ray, Project Manager/Engineer, Woolgoolga to Ballina: Natasha.RAY@transport.nsw.gov.au