A place for learning, storytelling and connection is springing to life at the Hawkesbury Regional Museum.
Hawkesbury City Council is proud to announce the completion of Stage 1 of the Aboriginal teaching garden, Ngarra Ngurang/Place of Learning. The garden, on Baker Street in the heart of Windsor, is a significant cultural and educational initiative developed in close consultation with the Dharug community.
The garden is a living space that celebrates Aboriginal knowledge, local plant use, and deep connection to Country. It has been created in partnership with the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, Merana Aboriginal Community Association, and Dharug community members.
Stage 1 is now complete, with a few finishing touches underway as the garden begins its natural process of settling in and establishing roots. This first phase includes garden design and landscaping, cultural signage, community consultation, and initial public programming. Endemic plants have been carefully sourced from multiple locations to reflect species traditionally used for food, medicine, fibre, and tools by the Dharug people.
The garden will grow and evolve in the years ahead, becoming a place for community gatherings, education programs, and quiet reflection, a space that supports healing, respect and knowledge-sharing across generations.
Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather recently visited the garden to see the progress for himself.
"This garden has been years in the making, and it's incredibly rewarding to see it come to life," Mayor Sheather said.
"It is a place for learning, storytelling and connection, for schools, families and the whole community."
Along the front fence of the garden, a vibrant artwork has been incorporated by Dharug artist Leanne Watson Redpath and honours local flora and fauna and alerts visitors to the space. Featuring laser-cut metal panels integrated into the fence, the artwork depicts Dharug storytelling elements such as meeting places, birds, and plants—symbolizing the deep connection between sky, land, and people.
Stage 2, planned for future delivery, will focus on expanding access to the site and developing a school education program aligned to the NSW syllabus. It will also include additional interpretation to deepen cultural learning experiences.
This project has been proudly funded by the NSW Government and Hawkesbury City Council.
Public Access & Open Day: Public access to the garden will remain restricted until Sunday 14 September while plants establish.
All are warmly invited to a Community Open Day on Sunday 14 September to explore the garden, learn more about its purpose, and celebrate the journey of this unique project. Register online: https://ngarrangurang-opening.eventbrite.com
