Newcastle’s Honeysuckle precinct now boasts a striking new Aboriginal artwork on the bank of Cottage Creek.
Designed by First Nations artists Tyler and Raymond Smith, Yimaliko Makoro features 10 cast aluminium fish atop 2.3-metre poles that swirl from the ground, representing a school of gill-bearing vertebrates moving through the waterway.
With a name translating to “encourage the fish”, the piece illustrates Cottage Creek’s historical significance as a source of food for Aboriginal communities for thousands of years, as well as recent measures to encourage sea life back into the area.
“Embedded within Aboriginal culture is a profound reverence for environmental preservation,” the co-creatives said.
“We have a deep connection to the land and waters on our country and a legacy that beckons us to steward the land for future generations.
“The sculpture, depicting fish traversing towards Hunter Street amid rippling waters, symbolises the interconnectedness of actions and their reverberating impact on the environment.
“It reminds us that all Australians are custodians of this land and must consider the legacy that we leave for those who follow in our wake.”
Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation chief executive Valentina Misevska said the organisation was thrilled to unveil Yimaliko Makoro.
“It’s great to see a continuation of more quality public space within the Honeysuckle precinct opening at the same time that more people come to live, work and visit the city,” she stated.
“This artwork in the new green space next to the Little Nation Hotel perfectly links with the ‘Layers of Us’ Indigenous piece on the nearby footbridge to form a cultural walking route that tells the story of the site’s significance to First Nations peoples.
“It also complements the works to make Cottage Creek itself more natural, with sandstone banks and reefs installed to help restore the ecosystem and literally ‘encourage the fish’ back into the waterway.”
For more community stories:
- Region prepares to celebrate 2024 NAIDOC Week
- Big boost for Port Stephens’ Little Beach
- Celebrations planned for Harold Gregson Reserve’s grand opening
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