Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara Sculpture

What echoes through time at Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara? This sculpture, whose name means “Listen, hear, think – The Place Speaks,” isn’t just a static form. It’s a living memorial, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara stands on the site of the Blacktown Native Institution in Oakhurst, Western Sydney. This institution represents a dark chapter in Australian history, one of the earliest known facilities designed to remove Aboriginal children from their families. But Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara isn’t about dwelling on the past. It’s about acknowledging it, honoring it, and moving forward. This project is a collaboration between the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Blacktown Arts Centre, and, most importantly, the local Aboriginal communities. Together, they have created a powerful symbol of remembrance for the Stolen Generations. The sculpture itself is a product of collaboration. Artists Tony Albert, Sharyn Egan, and Moogahlin Performing Arts worked closely with the community to ensure its authenticity and impact. Sharyn Egan, herself a member of the Stolen Generations, contributed seven large-scale flannel flowers. These flowers symbolize the complex emotions tied to the site, encompassing sadness, happiness, and everything in between. Tony Albert worked with local children and families to create Gubangala Gumadangyiningi (“Let’s honor his/her spirit”). This interactive piece allows visitors to “gift a memory” to the children who once resided at the institution, writing their thoughts on paper that will later be buried on site, contributing to the healing of the land. Moogahlin Performing Arts created Manuwi Jam Ya Murong (“Footprints in the Sand”), a performance installation that celebrates local customs and the experience of growing up Aboriginal in Western Sydney. Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara is more than just a sculpture. It is a place of reflection, remembrance, and hope. It stands as a powerful reminder of the past, but also as a beacon of hope for the future, a place where the silenced voices of the Stolen Generations can finally be heard.