Indigenous recognition plaque outside Hornsby Shire Council Chambers

Details

Identifiernot specifiedDate2020Photographernot specifiedDescriptionA “Bicentenary Fountain” to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook's landing in Australia was built in Hornsby Park. A plaque was laid that read:

“This Fountain was erected in 1970 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the discovery and exploration of the east coast of Australia by Captain James Cook”.

In May 2006, in response to evolving community understanding, Hornsby Shire Council approved the placement in Hornsby Park of a brass plaque acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land comprising Hornsby Shire. The new plaque would recognise the Darug and GuriNgai people as the traditional owners of the land and relate their custodianship and connection to the land. The wording on the plaque was decided in consultation with representatives of the Darug and GuriNgai people.

“Hornsby Shire Council acknowledges that when Captain James Cook claimed possession of the east coast, the land which is now Hornsby Shire had already been occupied by the Darug and GuriNgai Peoples for many thousands of years.”

In 2016, Council’s Parks & Landscape team proposed to remove the fountain as part of the works approved under the Aquatic Centre development application. The fountain was considered an introduced element in the park and therefore not integral to the park’s core heritage so its removal was not objected to on heritage grounds, subject to photographic recording and retention of the commemorative plaques.
After the removal of the fountain, the plaques were salvaged and discussions took place between Council and the Hornsby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee (HATSICC) about the most appropriate way to reinstate them and explain their history.

It was agreed that a new plaque would be erected in the forecourt of Council chambers which retained the wording of the Indigenous recognition plaque. The new plaque is fixed to a sandstone base that features hand carved animals representing the totems of the GuriNgai and Darug tribes.

The original fountain plaques were retained by Council as an historical record.Physical FormatHornsbyDimensionsHornsby Shire Council

Location

Building NameHornsby Shire CouncilHornsby Park Indigenous AustraliansDarugGuriNgaiStreet:StreetView:&enabled=1&fov=89&heading=86&pitch=-1&zoom=19GeotagHornsby Shire Council

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Indigenous recognition plaque outside Hornsby Shire Council Chambers

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Indigenous recognition plaque outside Hornsby Shire Council Chambers