Story Behind the Artwork
The Hornsby South Public School mural celebrates Aboriginal culture, connection to Country and the school’s learning community through a series of 12 interconnected panels.
The artwork features eight culturally significant totem animals of the Guringai and Darug Nations: the goanna, kangaroo, bandicoot, emu, stingray, bream, snapper and possum. These animals acknowledge the rich cultural knowledge and connections Aboriginal people have with the natural environment.
Four important waterways are represented throughout the mural: the Lane Cove River, Hawkesbury River, Pacific Ocean and Parramatta River. These waterways provided local Aboriginal communities with an abundance of fresh food and natural resources, highlighting the importance of water to Country and everyday life.
The artwork incorporates 24 meeting places, each representing one of the 24 classes at Hornsby South Public School. Within these meeting places are handprints symbolising the teachers and their important role in guiding, supporting and sharing knowledge with students.
A continuous journey pathway connects the different sections of the mural, incorporating a variety of traditional Aboriginal art symbols. This pathway represents the learning journey students undertake throughout their time at Hornsby South Public School.
Together, the 12 panels tell a connected story of Country, culture, community and education, celebrating the relationship between Aboriginal cultural knowledge and the shared learning journeys of students and teachers.