Yirran Muru, NSW

Yirran Muru

The play space, named Yirran muru, won the Education and Interpretation Category, and Highly Commended in the Aboriginal Heritage Category at the 30th annual National Trust Heritage Awards 2024.

This is yet another milestone for Yirran murru, securing first place in a non-Aboriginal award category and seeking state recognition for its contribution to education and interpretation.

The awards ceremony is an annual celebration of outstanding practice, awarding excellence in conservation of Aboriginal, built, natural and cultural heritage.

Yirran muru, which translates to ‘many pathways’ in the local Dharawal language, is a new contemporary play space designed to reflect the natural environment and the city’s rich Dharawal Aboriginal culture and history.

From the escarpment to the sea, Yirran muru will take people of all ages on a cultural journey following in the footsteps of local Aboriginal people.

The play space is nestled in the native gardens at the rear of the Shellharbour Civic Centre, affectionately known as ‘the backyard’.

Over 300 local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students, along with local Elders, engaged with Council to collaborate on the play space’s design

The engagement took place during Reconciliation Week activities and in-school workshops, and encouraged conversations with local community members to gain an understanding of individuals’ visions for the play space. It was discovered that children prefer to learn by exploring and self-discovery, while the Elders expressed their desire to provide opportunities to learn about local Aboriginal stories about how people moved around Shellharbour.

The space incorporates the inclusive design principals in NSW Government’s ‘Everyone Can Play’ guidelines to enhance the sense of place and connection for people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds.

There are multiple interactive elements including Burri Burri - a hand carved timber whale, a canoe across the Jubborsay (Lake Illawarra), a gunya (dwelling), a treehouse lookout, sandpit, climbing equipment, bush tucker plants and more.

The space also includes a language wheel sign, where visitors can listen to and learn words from the Dharawal language and earn more about local Aboriginal culture.

Each of the play features are designed to enhance children’s understanding of the seasonal movements of Aboriginal people in the local area and connection through Creation Stories.

Check out here for more exciting activities and spots in the Illawarra