What reminds you of home?
By Ellie Boxhall, Loreto Community Housing
A new community art project at Hayfield Place in Bridgewater is transforming a construction site fence into a mural that celebrates home, culture and connection through a partnership between Connected Beginnings Lutruwita’s Little Committee, Palawa artist Brooke Bourke, and Loreto Community Housing.
The Little Committee, a group of ten children from the Kutalayna/Jordan River region, were asked “what reminds you of home?”. Drawing on their own experiences, the children created artwork featuring houses, family members, pets, nature and favourite places, highlighting the importance of having a safe and welcoming place to belong.
Local artist Brooke Bourke worked alongside the children to develop their ideas, weaving cultural elements and Aboriginal storytelling into the large-scale artwork. The completed mural now features prominently on the site fence surrounding Loreto Community Housing’s Hayfield Place development on the Bridgewater waterfront.
The mural celebrates the identity, culture and spirit of the Bridgewater community while drawing attention to the importance of safe and secure housing.
The Hayfield Place site is located on the traditional lands of the moomairremenner clan of the Oyster Bay Nation. Aboriginal heritage, including oyster middens, has been identified close to the site, and significant changes were made to the original development plans to ensure Aboriginal cultural artefacts are protected and avoided during construction. These measures include the creation of an open space along the timtumili minanya (Derwent River) foreshore and the establishment of a two-metre exclusion zone. There is also evidence of archaeological remains from historical European buildings, potentially dating back to the 1820s. Loreto Community Housing continues to work closely with archaeologists to help preserve and protect the site’s important cultural and historical heritage.
Loreto Community Housing Chief Executive Officer Cody Burdon said the organisation was proud to support the initiative.
“We’re excited to partner with Connected Beginnings Lutruwita on this project,” Mr Burdon said.
“It celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the area and the strong sense of community that exists here in Bridgewater.”
“The mural reflects Loreto’s broader vision to not only to provide housing, but to help create places where people feel safe, valued and connected.”
Claire Coad, Project Officer for the Kutalayna Collective, Connected Beginnings Lutruwita, said,
“It has been wonderful to see this creative project come to life. The Little Committee children were incredibly proud to see their artwork transformed into a community art installation. Having their creativity showcased in a public space here in Kutalayna/Jordan River not only celebrates their ideas and voices, but also creates a sense of belonging, pride and ownership within the community.”
The Hayfield Place development will deliver 56 new social and affordable homes, helping to address growing housing need in the region. The development is being delivered by Loreto Community Housing with funding support from Housing Australia and the Catholic Development Fund, alongside ongoing support from Homes Tasmania. These partnerships are helping Loreto Community Housing expand the supply of quality social and affordable housing across Tasmania.
Loreto Community Housing is Tasmania’s largest community housing provider, delivering housing and support services that strengthen individuals, families and communities across the state.
The Little Committee is part of Connected Beginnings Lutruwita/Tasmania, a program of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, supporting Aboriginal children and their families to thrive in their early years.