Designers: Uncle Ron Mason and The Gamay Rangers
Installer: Rise Pacific
Location: Museum of Sydney, NSW
The Dharawal word ‘madjeri’ refers to a canoe or small floating vessel. These vessels were crafted by Aboriginal people with a deep-rooted ancestral and cultural connection to coastal Sydney. Dharawal Country spans from Sydney Harbour, down to the Shoalhaven, and as far west as the Campbelltown area.
Museums of History NSW collaborated closely with the Gujaga Foundation to showcase these stories and cultural connections through madjeri. The vessels were created under the guidance of Gweagal clan leader Uncle Rod Mason and with the support of the Gamay Rangers.
Partridge played a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity and safety of the madjeri display. A primary engineering challenge for this project was ensuring public safety beneath the suspended installation. The madjeri, constructed from bark by local Indigenous people, posed unique difficulties due to their variable material properties and unknown long-term durability. The brittle nature of bark, combined with the variable materials and manufacturing processes, made it challenging to accurately predict the canoes’ performance over time. Moreover, the desire for a 20-year+ installation with minimal visible structure while maintaining safety requirements presented a significant engineering challenge, necessitating innovative solutions.
Our team carefully evaluated the proposal to use 3.2mm stainless steel wire for the suspension system. We determined it was suitable, considering load calculations, seismic factors, and potential public-related stresses to ensure the system could safely support the two indigenous bark canoes.
To ensure compliance with relevant building codes and safety standards, Partridge certified the design and produced an ongoing risk management plan to ensure the longevity of the display. The installation of the madjeri display was expertly executed by Rise Pacific, while we inspected the installation and provided certification of the installation.
The result is a captivating and culturally significant exhibit that showcases the rich heritage of the Dharawal people.
