New public artwork officially unveiled at Bradbury Underpass
Published on 18 December 2024
Residents and visitors can expect to be immersed in art as they pass through the Bradbury Underpass on their way to the Billabong Parklands, with the launch of a new public artwork titled Ngalambay, meaning Ripple in Dharawal language.
Artists Maddison Gibbs and Danielle Mate have collaborated to bring the community Ngalambay, a site-specific immersive portal through time and space.
Linking Water, Mother, Country and Minerva Pools (a significant Dharawal women's birthing site), this underwater cultural journey invites users of the underpass to reflect on the cycles of life.
The artwork was developed in collaboration with women from the local Dharawal community, paying homage to Aunty Kay Bussell, Traditional Water Cleansing Ceremony and the generous sharing of cultural stories of the Campbelltown region.
The artists’ flowing water motif was further brought to life with additional lighting and mirror details, fabricated and installed by Curio Projects.
Campbelltown Mayor Darcy Lound was joined at the official opening ceremony on Saturday 14 December by Transport for NSW, along with artists and members of the community.
The opening ceremony consisted of local First Nations ceremonial proceedings and dance performances, followed by artist workshops for the community to enjoy.
"This artwork is a wonderful addition to our community. It aligns with our commitment to embed art and culture in our every day in the hopes that it will spark conversation, celebrate our shared stories, and remind us that creativity can help bring us together," Mayor Cr Darcy Lound said.
“Revitalising this space will further encourage residents to utilise a safer, more direct route to the Billabong Parklands from other key sites in our community,” Cr Lound said.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through Transport NSW’s Places to Love program.
About the Places to Love program:
Transport for NSW’s Places to Love program collaborates with a number of pilot councils on demonstration projects that trial improving walkable access to, and the quality of, local public space in and around transport hub precincts. The program trials temporary changes that can inform and guide future interventions to public space. The demonstration projects are a way to quickly test how to make public spaces more vibrant and active using trials, pop-ups and semi-permanent changes to test ideas and build the case for longer-term change.