Bayside Council has transformed a vacant site in Wolli Creek into a vibrant recreational park that will open on Wednesday 20 December.
The park features shaded plays paces for all ages, picnic shelter and tables, multi-purpose active space with basketball hoops, seating, fitness equipment, a ping pong table, charging ports, grassed areas for informal games and picnicking, landscaping, lighting, and footpath improvements to Mt Olympus Drive.
“The new park is a welcome addition to Wolli Creek and will give residents access to open space for generations to come,” Mayor Bill Saravinovski said.
The proposed name, approved by Council and referred to the Geographical Names Board, is Dharaggang Park.
Dharaggang, a local Dharawal word for river, was endorsed by the RAP working group as the most appropriate name due to the significance of the river to Aboriginal communities.
Council commissioned artists Maddison Gibbs and Jason Wing to create a mural on the 9m high wall at the northern boundary of the park that brings First Nations art to the heart of Bayside and gives the park a splash of colour.
Titled ‘Reflection’, the artists responded to stories by Aunty Barb Simms that explore how the river provides, the river transports and the river is time, and have created a mural that highlights the significant Aboriginal heritage around Wolli Creek
It is understood that four different clans lived around the river, including the Darug, Bidjigal, Gameygal and Cadigal people.
Bayside Council purchased the land in Guess Avenue from the NSW Government and the park was designed with input from residents.
Minister for Lands and Property and Member for Rockdale Steve Kamper said the new park was a wonderful gift for the local community just in time for summer and the festive season.
“This is a great example of repurposing an unused NSW government-owned site into vital green space that will serve this wonderful community,” Mr Kamper said.
“Wolli Creek is one of the fastest growing communities in Sydney, and it is important that any increase in residential development is supported with quality public open spaces such as this.
“I thank both Property and Development NSW and Bayside Council for their outstanding collaboration in delivering this park for the people of Wolli Creek.”
More on the artists:
Maddison Gibbs is a proud Gunu Baakandji woman born and raised in Dubbo, NSW.
Gibbs has painted a fish trap mural on a water tank in Steel Park, Canterbury.
Both artist and activist, Gibb’s practice examines dual histories – focusing on stories of past and present Aboriginal societies and spirits. Gibbs is a multidisciplinary artist, working across a wide spectrum of cultural praxis, utilising many methods, ideologies and mediums.
Gibb’s work includes themes on intergenerational contemporary Aboriginal stories, focusing women’s narratives and perspectives.
Her artworks are polarising, offering up feminine intuitive visual poetics, starkly contrast with her art activism at the barricades. The dual sensitivities of caring for a country and fighting injustice is an interesting tension explored through her art.
Jason Wing is a Sydney-based Chinese-Aboriginal (Biripi) artist who has painted a small-scale mural of Pemulwuy – the Rainbow warrior, in Ewen Park, Hurlstone Park.
Jason Wing has always been interested in public space as street artist since 2006. He focused more on public art since his inaugural public artwork in Kimber Lane, Chinatown, Sydney in 2012.
Since 2012, he has created works which are imaginative and inspiring community spaces with a focus on dual histories. His artworks activate cultural stories and histories with an educational focus.
He respectfully builds upon architectural buildings and landscapes and thoughtful architectural designs. He prefers to design from the planning phase with integrated wholistic designs.
His artworks respond to dual histories improving public pride, ownership and welcoming visuals to all communities.
