Hannah Hammoud
Local residents in Mill Park and Epping have welcomed the new Darebin Creek Lookout, co-designed by Wurundjeri Willum traditional owners in collaboration with the Childs Road Upgrade team.
The Lookout has created a new open space situated on the southern side of the Darebin Creek bridges, that links in with new walking and cycling paths and the Darebin Creek Trail.
The finished product incorporates feedback from the local community, particularly local Aboriginal people, ensuring more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal history in Epping and Mill Park were represented as part of the project.
On Saturday, March 4, Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny formally opened the space, which has been opened to the public for the first time.
The opening coincided with a community event, where hundreds of locals joined the Childs Road Upgrade project team to celebrate the completion of the upgrade.
Central to the gathering and rest area, is an Aboriginal mosaic pavement designed by local and Wurundjeri artist Ashley Firebrace, complemented with interpretive signage. Locals were able to have their say on this final design.
The piece entitled “Meeting place” evokes the stories of how their ancestors used Darebin Creek and surrounds, drawing on parallels to the ancient movement and campsites of the Wurundjeri-balluk and Wurundjeri-willam clans.
Major Road Projects Victoria Acting Chief Executive, Andrew Williams said that the team worked closely with the Aboriginal community to enlighten locals about the area’s Aboriginal heritage.
“We are constantly growing our understanding about the role we can play to build better connections with Aboriginal communities,” he said.
“We’re digging deeper beyond the roads we build, celebrating the history and culture of Traditional Owners, on whose land we work on throughout the state of Victoria.”
The new rest area delivered by The Childs Road Upgrade features a drinking fountain, seating, extensive planting and landscaped gardens.
Details: roadprojects.vic.gov.au/darebincreeklookout.
