A network of creeks to the north of the Molonglo fingered their way across the plain from Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie, and fed into Sullivan’s Creek. These waterways have been hidden by urban development; water has been guided around suburbs with swales, and under suburbs as storm-water. However it is easy to re-trace the water flows, as they are clear on Canberra’s early maps. And the creeks illuminate the placement of some of Canberra’s first suburban centres.
The Drain in Canberra spark and love/hate relationship for the community. People are drawn to these Urban Waterways to engage in Graffiti, Skating , Water Play, Exploration , Shelter , an alternative pathway.
Inspiration comes from projects such as the High Lines (Manhattan). This speaks to the reimagining of public infrastructure. We also gain inspiration from multisensory public art projects that again bring to life Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage.
Creating a creative and cultural corridor that will redefine what it means to be Australian. Search for a collective identity. Build tools for communities to tell their stories, find a common ground. Embed indigenous ceremony and dreaming, learning into each stage of the project to allow cultural awakening that uncovers and confronts the uncomfortable stories and opens up the communities to further engagement with our complex society.
The purpose of this walk / tour was to map the Sullivan’s trail route, identify significant cultural, indigenous and environmental sites. This was an active and onsite community consultation about potential projects including identifying sites for creative and placemaking activities. This walk questioned how the community would like to create awareness and stewardship around our urban water ways.
Kambri Creek follows from Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve through, Harrison, Mitchell and through Lyneham, O’Connor through ANU Campus on to Lake Burley Griffen
Groundwork has been established along this trail with a wealth of innovation. Just some examples include Birdscaping led by Seechange, micro-forests (climate factory) CBR, Sly Fox coffee, ANU (Kambri) and Haig Park Activation (Urban Renewal Authority), and past and present pilot public arts projects being led by Nicola Lambert. The environmental and Indigenous history is especially rich.
