Intermezzo 5: Water (badu)

Sydney is a city known for its harbour. The Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, the ferry to Manly Beach—for most visitors and many locals, it is these manufactured elements of the site that are most iconic. But it wasn’t always this way, and for many, the water itself is still the most important focus. Since 2017 though, a new initiative draws clearer focus between Sydney’s Indigenous histories, resilience, and relation to water. Through a curated series of Aboriginal stories, the in-development Sydney Harbour Walk presents an innovative way to inspire the public to experience the harbour foreshore in a way that is not currently available. Aboriginal curator Emily McDaniel is providing recommendations for the storytelling Harbour Walk, outlining ways to present the Harbour Walk as an Acknowledgement of Country. It aspires to weave a story about strength, survival, and continuity, using a range of different artistic media.