The Goolwa Wharf Precinct location holds great cultural significance to the Traditional Owners, the Ngarrindjeri People.
The Goolwa Wharf Precinct Project Team, together with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation (NAC), established a ‘collaborative co-design team’ that worked together to derive concept designs for the inclusion of Ngarrindjeri artwork as part of the Project.
The proposed artworks reflected concepts of family, Country, knowledge and culture and the special connection Ngarrindjeri have to their Ngartjis and their totems. The proposed artworks spoke of the Ngarrindjeri culture and expressed the principles of 'moving forward together’. The concept artwork designs are outlined below.
Alexandrina Council also worked with the Helpmann Academy and the K&SLangley Family to celebrate 'family and connectedness' through a piece of public art called Hearthstone. The work involved artist collaboration between Amber Cronin, Anika Gardner and Ngarrindjeri and Narangga artist Cedric Varcoe.
Public Art - Helpmann Academy
Image: Hearthstone artwork by Cedric Varcoe 'Spider Woman and Nori'
The Helpmann Academy empowers South Australia’s emerging creatives to realise their visions, build artistic practices and foster a culture of collaboration. They walk alongside emerging creatives as they make the transition from study to professional practice.
Looking to deepen their connection with the Helpmann Academy and emerging visual artists, the K&S Langley Family had a bold, ambitious idea in 2020 to commission a large-scale public artwork in the heart of the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. The K&S Langley Family had many fond memories of holidaying in Goolwa over the years and wanted an artwork to reflect the quality family time that they and many other families had experienced in the township. Together the Helpmann Academy and K&S Langley Family brought the project to Alexandrina Council.
Over the period from June to December 2021, a select group of artists were required to develop their concepts that responded to the themes of ‘family and connectedness’ and present to a judging panel. With a submission that thoughtfully connects the past to the present, in early 2022 emerging artists Amber Cronin and Anika Gardner were declared the successful recipients of the Helpmann Academy Major Public Art Commission for the Goolwa Wharf Precinct, with their artwork, Hearthstone.
The judging panel were impressed by the way the Amber and Anika spent extensive time connecting with a wide cross-section of the Goolwa community – from local residents to business owners and Ngarrindjeri community representatives – to gain a deep and genuine understanding of the area. Hearthstone strongly met the themes of ‘family and connectedness’ that visitors to and users of the Goolwa Wharf Precinct will experience.
Image: One of the three installations of Hearthstone.
Hearthstone is a sculptural work imbued with a sense of discovery and curiosity. The duo has created an artwork of ‘deep remembering’ that visitors and residents alike will delight in. Hearthstone features designs from contemporary Ngarrindjeri and Narangga artist, Cedric Varcoe.
There are three main elements to Hearthstone; family gatherings nodes (etched granite stones), reed like forms (steel and bronze) and alluvial stones (granite boulders).
These sculptural motifs are a node to the natural lightness and buoyancy of the place, a sense of water flow and with an appreciation of the effects of changing seasons that are present on the Goolwa Waterfront (sun, cloud cover, wind, and wet weather).
The node stones are engraved with drawings and stories of place from the first people of Goolwa, collected and presented through working collaboratively with Ngarrindjeri, including Jekeyere, Kuti the cockles, Nori the pelican and The Seven Sisters.
Hearthstone is positioned near Signal Point within the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. It links place throughout the precinct area, creating a sense of story with repeated sculptural and landscape motifs. This approach is inspired by Goolwa as a location itself: as a node along the river artery, a connective point for families, wildlife, industry and memories through history.
‘Alluvial Hearthstone / nukan kungun (looking and listening) ’was declared the winning artwork of the Helpmann Academy Major Public Art Commission for the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. See the link following to read the full joint Media release - 18 February 2022.
A series of metal sculptural figures express the importance of family. The artwork is centred on an abstraction of a campsite. Concepts of congregation, custom, fire, shelter, and food are expressed in the symbols and arrangement of the artwork. The piece invites a conversation about what family means and the significance of culture and custom for Ngarrindjeri. This concept artwork is now a public art sculpture located at nearby Goolwa Beach.
'Lakinyeri' (Family) by Cedric Varcoe
'Lakinyeri' (Family) is a sculpture created by Ngarrindjeri artist Cedric Varcoe. The concept was developed as part of the ‘collaborative co-design team’ for the wharf precinct.
This artwork reflects concepts of family, Country, knowledge and culture and the special connection Ngarrindjeri have to their 'Ngartjis' or totems. This work speaks of Ngarrindjeri culture and expresses the principles of 'moving forward together’. The sculpture also recognises the significance of the area to the Ngarrindjeri traditional owners. It encompasses a series of metal sculptural figures expressing the importance of family. The artwork is centred on an abstraction of a campsite. Concepts of congregation, custom, fire, shelter, and food are expressed in the symbols and arrangement of the artwork. The piece invites a conversation about what family means and the significance of culture and custom for Ngarrindjeri.
This concept artwork is now a public art sculpture located at Goolwa Beach that was unveiled in September 2023.
Using the footpath to Amelia Park as a canvass to retell the story of the Ngarrindjeri Country. The painted colours and detailed patterning of her work conceptualises the landscape of Goolwa and the Coorong. The different colours painted on the footpath represent the earth, sky, water and landscapes throughout Ngarrindjeri Ruwi. Details in the painting reflect on the walking paths of Ngarrindjeri ancestors.
Telling the story of the Ngarrindjeri Ngartjis
One of the concepts for the wharf project that remains a proposal is the Telling the story of the Ngarrindjeri Ngartjis.
The deep and unbroken connection that the Ngarrindjeri have with the land, water, animals and plants. The Ngartjis are special friends that support, protect and guide the Ngarrindjeri. Kyla's work is located on the wharf, close to the nourishing waters of the Murray and the Coorong. Each Ngartji is charred into the wharf, a permanent mark that honours the importance of each Ngartji.
Telling the story of the Ngarrindjeri Ngartjis. The deep and unbroken connection that the Ngarrindjeri have with the land, water, animals and plants. The Ngartjis are special friends that support, protect and guide the Ngarrindjeri. Kyla's work is located on the wharf, close to the nourishing waters of the Murray and the Coorong. Each Ngartji is charred into the wharf, a permanent mark that honours the importance of each Ngartji.
The Story of Ngarrindjeri Country.
One of the wharf project concepts that remains a proposal is the Story of Ngarrindjeri Country.
Using the footpath to Amelia Park as a canvas to retell the story of the Ngarrindjeri Country. The painted colours and detailed patterning of the work conceptualises the landscape of Goolwa and the Coorong. The different colours painted on the footpath represent the earth, sky, water and landscapes throughout Ngarrindjeri Ruwi. Details in the painting reflect on the walking paths of Ngarrindjeri ancestors.
