Hawkesbury City Council has commenced an exciting transformation of the outdoor space at the Hawkesbury Regional Museum with the creation of a permanent Aboriginal Garden. This significant initiative will serve as a space

for knowledge-sharing about local endemic plants, traditional food, tools, and bush medicine, enriching the community’ s cultural understanding.

Jointly funded by Create NSW and

Hawkesbury City Council, the garden is being developed in close collaboration with the Merana Aboriginal Community Association for the Hawkesbury Inc., the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, and Darug community stakeholders.

Designed to be a welcoming gathering place, the Aboriginal Garden will offer immersive learning experiences through special events, school education programmes, and public access during the Museum’ s opening hours.

Leading landscape architecture firm Taylor Brammer— renowned for its sustainable and culturally responsive designs— has been engaged to bring the project to life. The garden will feature more than 45 species of endemic plants, complemented by sandstone elements,

seating areas, and public artworks. Many of the plants are being locally sourced, reinforcing a strong connection to Country.

A striking public artwork by Darug artist Leanne Mulgo Watson will enhance the garden along the Baker Street boundary. The installation will comprise laser-cut metal panels integrated into the fence, illustrating Darug storytelling elements such as meeting places, birds, and plants— symbolising the deep connection between sky, land, and people.

The Hawkesbury Regional Museum is working closely with Darug knowledge holders to develop a permanent Daruglanguage name for the garden, which will be announced in due course.

Construction is anticipated to be completed by May 2025. However, the garden will remain closed over winter to allow the plants time to establish. An

official Spring Launch and Museum Open Day is scheduled for September 2025( exact date to be confirmed).

During construction( March – May 2025), access to the Museum’ s outdoor space will be restricted, and entry via the Thompson Square gate may be temporarily disrupted. For access enquiries, please contact( 02) 4560 4655. This project forms part of 20 Stories of the Deerubbin Building, a programme celebrating Hawkesbury City Council Arts & Culture and the 20th anniversary of the Deerubbin building in Windsor.