**Due to current COVID restrictions in Sydney, this exhibition is currently on pause. Check back for information on its re-opening as lockdown measures are lifted.**
Launched at the start of National Reconciliation Week, This Is Where They Travelled is a new exhibition at NSW Parliament House inviting visitors to connect with the lives and stories of Aboriginal people who lived in and around Sydney's coast between the early 1800s and the 1930s.
On display from 27 May to the end of July, the exhibit follows the journeys of 10 Aboriginal men and women – including how their lives changed as Sydney grew as a city and, perhaps surprisingly, how much they remained the same.
Ray Ingrey is Chairperson of the Gujaga Foundation, which has arranged the touring exhibition's free showing at Parliament. "Looking at the lives of our old people, it would be easy to assume they had 'lost their authenticity' of being Aboriginal," Mr Ingrey said. "However, this exhibition demonstrates how Aboriginal people quickly adapted to the ever-changing world they were living in, while still undertaking the same patterns of settlement, marriage and cultural movements as their ancestors had done for thousands of years – connecting past and present in a constant, timeless rhythm."
The exhibition is based on research by historian and archaeologist Dr Paul Irish and researchers from the La Perouse Aboriginal community. It's being hosted at Parliament by the Honourable Leslie Williams, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
"This Is Where They Travelled provides amazing insight into the strong connections and traditions Aboriginal people in coastal Sydney maintained and passed down during a time of significant change," Mrs Williams said. "Don't miss the chance to trace the footsteps of these 10 remarkable people, learn about their lives, and discover places of meaning along the coast."
How to see the exhibition and more:
Until Thursday 29 July, This Is Where They Travelled can be seen weekdays from 9am to 5pm at NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Visitors to Parliament during the month of June can also enjoy a unique and delicious culinary experience at Strangers' Restaurant, with the Koori Kitchen Takeover seeing the next generation of Aboriginal chefs infusing native ingredients into the menu. Strangers' Restaurant is open from 12 to 3pm on weekdays for fine dining, with bookings essential.
