Embedded in this sandstone wall, clusters of brass oysters tell a silent story. This is Bet\u016b\u014bigo. It is an artwork by Jonathan Jones. It marks the high tide line.
Bet\u016b\u014bigo is more than just a pretty sculpture. It serves as a reminder. Aboriginal knowledge and history are embedded in our city buildings.
Consider the history of Sydney’s colonial buildings. Colonists burnt oyster shells from huge Aboriginal middens. They crushed them and used them for mortar. You can still find evidence of these crushed shells in Sydney’s colonial buildings today.
The artist, Jonathan Jones, is a Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man. He created five artworks in Quay Quarter Lanes. All five works reference Arabanoo. Arabanoo was an Aboriginal man buried in this area.
Captured in Manly in 1788, Arabanoo was the first of Governor Arthur Phillip’s proteges. He was known for sharing his food and caring for the sick. Bet\u016b\u014bigo reminds us of Arabanoo’s generosity.
The name Bet\u016b\u014bigo itself means oysters in the Eora language. The Eora people are the traditional owners of this land. Jones uses Eora names to keep their language alive.
Walk around Quay Quarter Lanes. Look for the other artworks. Find ‘Magora’ which means fish. See ‘Gwara’ meaning wind, and ‘Weerong’ meaning Sydney Cove. Each artwork tells a part of Arabanoo’s story. Each artwork has a meaning.
Now look closely at the sandstone wall that holds Bet\u016b\u014bigo. Imagine the Aboriginal people who lived here for thousands of years. They gathered oysters from these shores. They built their lives around the harbour.
Feel the rough texture of the stone. Think about the layers of history it contains. European colonists built on top of Aboriginal middens. Bet\u016b\u014bigo brings this hidden history to light.
The brass oysters gleam in the sunlight. They stand out against the sandstone. They represent resilience and remembrance. They are a reminder that Aboriginal history is part of Sydney’s story. Bet\u016b\u014bigo ensures this legacy lives on.
As you leave Quay Quarter Lanes, remember Bet\u016b\u014bigo. Remember Arabanoo. Remember the Eora people. Their story is woven into the fabric of this city. Their presence endures.