New park delivers powerful lessons

The opening of a new park at our Baldivis Grove community in Perth was the culmination of a wonderful collaborative experience with local Traditional Owners which shaped and improved the outcome for both residents and the wider community.

The collaboration came after an archaeological and ethnographic survey of the Hathaway Reserve site found potential scar trees and identified it as a significant place of trading and gathering for generations of Noongar people.

The consultation process with Traditional Owners Gnaala Karla Booja saw the retention of more mature trees, the commissioning of local Indigenous artists to create public art and interpretive signage and on-site cultural awareness sessions for staff and contractors.

Innovative civil engineering solutions were devised to ensure the roots of 400-year-old trees were not disturbed during the construction process and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan was drafted.

The public art includes the 3m ‘Kaya Mate’ sculpture by Indigenous artist Rohin Kickett in conjunction with Matthew McVeigh. From one side the piece reads ‘mate’, and from another angle ‘kaya’, the Noongar word for ‘welcome’.

The piece is designed to meld modern Australian and Indigenous idiom and warmly welcome people into the space from two perspectives.

Mr Kickett and Mr McVeigh also created a range of beautiful metal sculptures of local birds which are designed to be sat on, climbed over and explored rather than simply admired.

Local Indigenous artist Hayley Thompson designed a range of symbols and interpretive signage which was incorporated into perforated shelter walls and etched into concrete. The six Noongar seasons are expressed through her flora and fauna symbols which are placed throughout the park.

Ms Thompson said she found the process of working with Frasers Property “smooth and supportive”.

“We never had to go back and forth and so that really allowed me to have that artistic freedom,” she said. “We all wanted the same outcome.”

Mr Kickett had a similarly positive experience.

“This is probably the best project I’ve worked on, and I’ve had a lot of other public art projects,” he said.

The end result of this collaboration is a more culturally rich and meaningful piece of open space and a powerful lesson for developers that the discovery of Indigenous heritage is something to be embraced rather than feared.

Frasers Property Australia Development Manager Ms Sarah Strongylos said many developers would have treated the findings as a challenge or constraint, but Frasers Property instead chose to celebrate the Indigenous Heritage designation in a process she describes as “one of the great honours of my career”.

“It’s an opportunity for people to become better informed. It was a learning curve but if you engage with the right intentions and approach things from an authentic place you can work through any issues,” she said. “You don’t have to be an expert, and you don’t always get it right, but a little bit of respect goes a long way.

“Through this process, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the innate wisdom within First Nations culture. I would encourage others to engage with Traditional Owners early in the planning and design process; it leads to better decision-making and stronger design outcomes.”

Ms Dellas Bennell, Art and Culture for Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation, described the collaboration with Frasers Property as “a respectful partnership”.

“It is delivered through thoughtfully considered contemporary artworks integrated within the natural landscape. Through a culturally informed planning approach, the project honours Aboriginal cultural heritage, place and history on Noongar booja. It demonstrates how development can embed cultural expression through Public Art,” she said.

While the park is tucked away within the Baldivis Grove community, Ms Strongylos said she hopes people from outside the community will seek it out to not only enjoy its facilities and admire its art but also learn more about the significant Indigenous history of the region.

“We think this is just such a great example of what can be achieved when you take the time to listen and open your heart to learn. This has been an incredible experience for the Frasers Property team and nothing would give us more satisfaction than seeing this park become a destination for people who want to share that experience with us.”