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Aboriginal elders condemn 'inappropriate' Barangaroo sculpture

Indigenous elders say a Stonehenge-style sculpture at Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour is inappropriate for the precinct, which is supposed to pay homage to Aboriginal matriarchy.

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Sydney's controversial Barangaroo development has faced another setback with Aboriginal elders objecting to a Stonehenge-style sculpture they say is inappropriate for the sacred site.

It's billed as the construction site that will redefine the Sydney cityscape, but in the late 1700s the land was controlled by proud Aboriginal fisherwoman, Barangaroo.

The development was supposed to pay respects to her and Aboriginal women but Nathan Moran, chief executive of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, said the sandstone sculpture - reminiscent of Stonehenge in England - did not.

"It's not appropriate to our culture; it's certainly not a depiction or a replica of what we would like to see displayed to demonstrate local Eora culture," he said. "I'm a bit disappointed."

Mr Moran said he would prefer to see a monument erected in Barangaroo's memory.

"We're openly campaigning for a replica statue or sculpture to be erected of Barangaroo and certainly, this does not do that," he said.

The Barangaroo Development Authority, which is responsible for the site, said in a statement that the sculpture might not go ahead.

"Some of the first sandstone blocks quarried on the site are currently being trialled as part of a landscaping element," the statement read.

"The Authority has consulted with and received feedback on this element from Indigenous community members and will take that feedback into account as work on Headland Park continues."

The $6 billion Barangaroo project will include a casino, a six-star hotel, office towers and apartments.

The park headland will include an Indigenous civic and cultural centre right near the site of the sandstone sculptures.


2 min read

Published

Updated

By Darren Mara


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