Sydney’s new ‘Yananurala’ harbour walk highlighting First Nations culture

By ERIN MODARO

A pathway of special markers labelling significant First Nations sites have been installed around Sydney Harbour, forming a new cultural experience walk. The name for the walk, Yananurala, comes from the Gadigal language meaning ‘Walking on Country’.

The City of Sydney announced that the signs along the walk are just the “first component” of a long term project by First Nations artist and curator, Emily McDaniel. The walk is designed to bring First Nations history and stories into the fabric of Sydney’s inner city, and recognise locations and people of great importance to the area.

Winding along the foreshore, the walk takes participants from Pyrmont to Woolloomooloo, stopping at significant locations such as Tara (Dawes Point) and Barangaroo.

McDaniel said the Yananurala walk “weaves together the stories, memories and histories of this Country”.

“These are the veins of Sydney – a living and breathing place.”

Future cultural and artistic additions to the walk will include a public artwork next to the Maritime Museum in Pyrmont and a major public artwork dedicated to ‘The Hungry Mile’ in Barangaroo.

Walk joins seven other art installations

The Yananurala walk is apart of the ‘Eora Journey’ initiative by the City of Sydney, in which one component aims to bring recognition in the public domain to First Nations culture and heritage. Seven projects are included in the public domain component, with the Yananurala walk marking the fifth in the series.

Sydney’s Mayor Lord Clover Moore said that “Yananurala continues our commitment to Aboriginal people that began in 2007 to ensure First Nations people, cultures and heritage are recognised in the city’s public spaces.”

“Carefully and respectfully realising Aboriginal stories through art and interpretation, Yananurala highlights the way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people know and experience Country.”

Daniel Coe, member of the City of Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel, said that he loves Yananurala.

“The cultural walk along the foreshore will bring our local stories and our local artists to interpret and strengthen our connection to the harbour, land and sky.”