Art and design celebrating Wadawurrung cultural heritage is a key feature of the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade.
The Indigenous elements are a legacy of collaboration on the upgrade between Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) and Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV).
MRPV engaged WTOAC to incorporate informed, meaningful Wadawurrung design in the upgrade and to improve connections with the Wadawurrung’s living cultural heritage and communities.
As the Registered Aboriginal Party for Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, WTOAC works to support their aspirations and protect their cultural heritage in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
Wadawurrung contributions feature prominently around the upgrade’s Marshall railway line bridge, 4km shared-use path and retaining wall near Settlement Road.
The bridge’s approach ramps feature 810 wall panels patterned to represent vertically broken boomerang flanks. BKK Architects collaborated with WTOAC on the panel design.
Acrylic screens atop the bridge depict a kunawarra (black swan) flying like movie reel slides as drivers pass. The kunawarra images are the work of Wadawurrung artist Stephanie ‘Anie’ Skinnner.
“It’s wonderful to think that as you cross over the bridge as a traveller, whether as a pedestrian or in a vehicle, you’re travelling alongside kunawarra,” she said.
“Kunawarra is a significant creature to Wadawurrung, and to walk beside her as you move through the landscape honours her story and the importance of the living things that live in and surround the Barwon,” she said
The retaining wall coloured to reflect the region’s soil is also lined with fins designed so the word ‘Jerringot’ appears as drivers pass in either direction. Wadawurrung for ‘water all around’ or ‘place of billabongs’, Jerringot is the name given to adjacent wetlands that are habitat for species including migratory wading birds, including Latham’s snipe.
The path includes etched tracks of native bird species including kunawarra, porronggitj (brolga), ibis, pelican and egret. Traditional owner BJ O’Toole designed the footprints, which appear in the vicinity of the relevant species’ habitat.
“Living locally and with Lake Connewarre wetlands just down the road, I see these birds regularly flying over me when I’m working on Country,” he said.
“It was a real honour to create their footprints and to share my story. I have three children, so for them to be able to go where their father’s artwork appears will be special and they’ll hold that connection for the rest of their lives.”
Along the path, two interpretive signage structures will provide information about the area, its native flora, fauna and Wadawurrung cultural significance. One signage structure will be built near Settlement Road, the other near the rail line bridge.
MRPV also worked with WTOAC on other aspects of the project including landscaping, colours and cultural heritage management plans.
“It is key that Wadawurrung Traditional Owners are engaged in this way to recognise the First Peoples of the region in which this upgrade has taken place,” said WTOAC chief executive officer Liam Murphy.
“I am very proud to see the art of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Stephanie ‘Anie’ Skinner and BJ O’Toole and the expression of their connection to Country and Culture, and for the public to share in as they travel on Wadawurrung Country.”
Major Road Projects Victoria Project Manager Matt Armitstead said working on the upgrade with WTOAC was a privilege.
“We thank them and the Wadawurrung artists who were involved in the project for their valuable contributions and cultural insight.”
The Barwon Heads Road Upgrade has added lanes between Belmont and Charlemont, making travel safer and more reliable for all users.
Along with building a shared-use path and rail line bridge, the upgrade has also improved intersections and removed a dangerous level crossing.
The project was completed about six months ahead of schedule.
More information is available on our Barwon Heads Road Upgrade webpage.