Connecting to Country - Strickland Estate Nielsen Park Master Plan

Working alongside CONTEXT Landscape Architecture, Tanner Kibble Denton Architects and JOC Consulting, the WSP Indigenous Specialist Services team will be advising on the project’s connection to country.

Michael Hromek, (Badawang, Yuin) Technical Executive – Indigenous (Architecture), says, “NPWS are eager to know more about the Aboriginal history of the site. What was it used for? What's special about it, etc.  

“Our team is helping them answer those questions through a desktop analysis of the historic records as well as facilitating ‘yarns’ with relevant Aboriginal Knowledge Holders, including the La Perouse Lands Council.

“We will then help the design team to translate these important themes into planning principles and tangible outcomes for the master plan.”

Historically home to the Birrabirragal and Gadigal Clans, Strickland Estate and Nielsen Park are some of the most popular precincts in Sydney Harbour National Park and hold significant cultural and heritage value.

The master plan will provide a 20-year vision and approach for visitor use and park management as a single integrated estate. It will identify and outline:

• The vision and guiding principles for the joint site
• Visitor experiences including day use, activities and events
• Landscaping and interpretation concepts
• Public access and circulation
• Vehicular and traffic management
• Park management aspects including essential services
• Proposed uses for buildings

Michael concludes, “The site holds significant Aboriginal heritage, with some of the highest quality and best-preserved shell middens, rock carvings, rock paintings and scar trees. All of which indicate thousands of years of Aboriginal settlement on this site.”