A new rest area on the southern side of the Darebin Creek Bridge as part of the Childs Road upgrade now incorporates Aboriginal art to share stories of its Indigenous ancestors.
Linked with the new walking paths and the Darebin Creek Trail, the Wurundjeri Willum traditional owners co-designed the Darebin Creek Lookout in partnership with the Childs Road upgrade team.
The finished space, entitled ‘Meeting Place’, is an Aboriginal mosaic pavement designed by local Wurundjeri artist Ashley Firebrace, who embodied the ancient movement and campsites of the Wurundjeri-balluk and Wurundjeri-willam clans.
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Aunty Julieanne Axford said she was proud to see Aboriginal culture of its area brought to life.
“Modern Aboriginal art can play a profound role in connecting to communities with distinctive colours and patterns, designs that speak to our Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people’s understanding and connection to the land,” she said.
Designs incorporated the wishes of residents, includig a preference of native trees, and wanting more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal History in Epping and Mill Park to be represented.
The new gathering space was formally opened at a community event in March, where hundreds of people joined the Childs Road upgrade project team to celebrate the area, officially opened by Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny.
Community members and visitors can now use the space, which features a drinking fountain, seating and native trees – the Red Ironbark – which were identifed in collobration with the City of Whittlesea and the Darebin Creek Management committee.
Major Road Projects Victoria acting chief executive Andrew Williams said the team would continue to work towards higlighting the area’s cultural and natural heritage.
“We are constantly growing our understanding about the role we can play to build better connections with Aboriginal communities,” he said.
“We’re digging deeper beyond the roads we build, celebrating the history and culture of traditional owners, on whose land we work on throughout the state of Victoria.”
The Childs Road upgrade is set to be completed in 2023, funded in partnership with the federal and state governments.
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