Terambamba – Aboriginal Public Art Project

Budget: 

• Original First Nations Designs for Toronto foreshore - $80,000 + gst (If required)

Applications due: Friday December 18, 2026. 5pm AEST

Project delivery date: February - November 2027

Open to: All Aboriginal Australian artists and creatives

About the opportunity

Lake Macquarie City Council is seeking proposals for a new Aboriginal Public Artwork for the intersection of Victory Parade and Cary Street, Toronto. We are seeking bold, colourful and a culturally grounded gateway artwork that reflects Awabakal Country, celebrates community identity, and delivers a highly visible and impactful arrival experience for the Toronto foreshore.

Background

Lake Macquarie City Council is seeking to commission a new First Nations public artwork for the intersection of Victory Parade and Cary Street, Toronto, as part of the Toronto Foreshore Revitalisation project.

This site is currently home to a series of timber totem poles featuring Aboriginal motifs, developed through a previous collaboration between the Toronto Rotary Club, the local Aboriginal community, and Worimi artist Uncle Gary Simon. Over time, these works have become significantly deteriorated and now require renewal.

The site has been identified within Council’s foreshore masterplan as a key location for remediation and new public art intervention. See more information: Toronto foreshore revitalisation - Lake Macquarie City Council

Target audience

• The community of Toronto
• Users of the Toronto Foreshore
• Visitors

Location: 29 Victory Parade, Toronto 2283. View in Google Maps

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

The Awabakal people are the traditional custodians of the Lake Macquarie region. Early government documents indicate this large tribe was composed of a number of clans - the Awabakal (Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region), the Five Islands Clan, the Ash Island clan, the Kurungbong clan, and the Pambalong clan (Swamps district).

The effect of European settlement (early 1800s) was devastating to these groups. Their land was taken and the animal and plant resources in the region diminished. This brought misunderstanding and conflict and a devastating diminishing of clans through conflict with Europeans and disease.

Details about the commission

The final design must meet the following physical specifications:

• The artwork should be bold and visually engaging, contributing to the identity of the site and country.
• Designs must express an ongoing connection to Country, reflecting the cultural knowledge, stories and custodianship of the local Aboriginal community.
• This includes embedding relationships to land, waterways and ecology through references to elements of Country such as middens, gunyas, and native flora and fauna.
• Meaningful consultation and collaboration with endorsed Aboriginal Elders is required prior to design approval and fabrication to ensure cultural integrity.
• Final designs must be reviewed and approved by nominated Lake Macquarie Aboriginal Elders.

Specific project requirements

• The successful project would be a source of pride for the local community.
• The work should utilise local culture, histories, symbolism or representation
• The work will have visual impact.
• The commission is intended to be semi-permanent and must have a minimum useful life of 20+ years.

Criteria for selection

Council is seeking an artist or artist team with demonstrated experience in:

• Developing and delivering public art outcomes, particularly permanent or outdoor works
• Working collaboratively with Aboriginal communities, Elders, and community organisations
• Translating cultural knowledge, stories, and motifs into contemporary public art contexts
• Understanding the technical requirements of fabrication and installation for public environments

Lake Macquarie City Council will cover the costs associated with:

• Implementation and installation of design into built form.
• Photography of final artwork/designs.
• Opening/launch event.
• Onsite signage and interpretive panel.
• Media and marketing.

Council will consider additional sundry requests such as preliminary travel and accommodation based on application.

The selected artist will be paid in four milestone payments

1. 25% of the artist commission upon approval of the artist’s concept
2. 25% on completion of Aboriginal community consultation
3. 25% for fabrication of work
4. 25% for installation of final work.

Artists are invited to submit their EOI in response to the brief.

Responses should include:

1. Contact details: name, telephone, mobile, email address, street address, ABN.
2. Current CV relevant to the opportunity (maximum one page).
3. Up to 500 words describing your concept.
4. Up to three examples of previous works

For an EOI to be considered, the artist must comply with the following requirements:

1. All applicable EOI documentation is completed in full and submitted; and
2. The EOI is lodged by the specific closing time.

Any EOI that does not comply with the above requirements or meet the minimum content standards may be deemed non-compliant and eliminated from the assessment process unless it is clear that the artist has made an unintentional error of form.

Expressions of interest may be lodged with Council either electronically via SmartyGrants

Or in hard copy format:

Lake Macquarie City Council Offices

126 – 138 Main Road, Speers Point NSW 2284

PO Box 1906 HRMC NSW 2310

Artists are responsible for ensuring that any documents or information sent electronically are in an acceptable format (such as PDF, Excel or Word).

All applicants are encouraged to discuss your EOI pitch and application form and or to discuss accessibility adjustments to the application process, please contact:

Charlotte Hilder

Cultural Projects Curator

Mob: +61 436 528 305

Email: childer@lakemac.nsw.gov.au