An ancient pathway

Blackheath Station, in the heart of the Blue Mountains, was recently upgraded as part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program, providing a better experience for public transport customers by delivering accessible, modern, secure and integrated transport infrastructure where it is needed most.

Artefact was commissioned to develop a Heritage Interpretation Strategy, Public Art and interpretive media for the project.


Artist’s impression of Blackheath Station upgrade courtesy of Transport for NSW

OUR
SOLUTION

Artefact worked with DesignInc and Arenco to develop an interpretive approach for the project.

We identified three key stories associated with Blackheath Station and travel across the mountains – one reflecting ancient trackways used by Aboriginal people across the mountain ridge lines, one on the history of this early station on the Great Western train line, which opened in 1868, and one on the importance of Blackheath Station’s cool-climate gardens.

Travel to the Blue Mountains increased as more people enjoyed the natural beauty of the area on day rail trips, and Blackheath Station was expanded in the 1890s and early 1900s. Ticket sales at Blackheath Station soared from 4,254 in 1884 to 70,000 in 1920, as rail tourism to the area increased.

A fire damaged the station building in 1985, but it was carefully restored using the original station architectural plans.


SUCCESS

Artefact worked with Darug artist Shay Tobin who developed a design for perforated metal screens at the station entry which depicted ‘Muru’ (Pathways), the ancient trackways and surrounding flora of the area.

We also developed a series of heritage panels exploring the history of the station and suburb which were installed on the station. Architectural drawings of the station from 1898 were transferred onto metal screens in the Kiss and Ride shelter.

Cold climate plantings were also an interpretive feature, reflecting the beauty of the established cold-climate gardens around Blackheath. All of these elements add to the community’s positive experience of the upgraded, accessible station.

“The artwork Muru (Pathways) is a bird’s eye view of the area. The concentric circles in the artwork are a place of gathering or community. The solid line running through the artwork is the Great Western Highway. Part of the motivation for the artwork is for people to reflect that the way they travelled here is actually along an ancient pathway.”

Shay Tobin, Darug Artist, 2023

Watch artist interview


CONTACT

HOLIDAY CLOSE
Our offices will be closed from Monday 23 Dec 2024 and will re-open on Monday 6 Jan 2025.
For unexpected finds and urgent project enquiries, please contact our Heritage Manager Stephanie Moore at stephanie.moore@artefact.net.au or call 0420 403 581.
For all other enquires please contact our General Manager Martin Edmunds at martin.edmunds@artefact.net.au or call 0404 877 490.
We wish you a peaceful holiday break and look forward to working with you in 2025.

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