Newman Town Square
The Newman Town Square is a regional community project that has transformed the centre of the town, replacing asphalted car park and industrial hard stand with an oasis of large shade trees and cool lawn and community amenity spaces.
Over a five-year process, UDLA worked together with stakeholders, council, community, Traditional Owners and Traditional Custodians to create a shared future for the town of Newman.
A central component of this project was a ceremony that acknowledged Traditional and Custodial Owners of Newman - Nyiyaparli and Martu respectively. From initial discussion with both of the key language groups, Martu – who were handed custodianship of Newman due to colonisation pressures – were keen to reinstate Nyiyaparli’s Traditional Ownership for Newman. The project and its process became an avenue for cross-cultural knowledge sharing and healing.
The Square was a central component of the third and final stage of the larger Newman Town Centre revitalisation project, which was implemented over seven years from 2010 to 2017. Sitting at the town’s focal centre, the 3,300sqm square incorporates a shaded walkway, seating spine, a generously-scaled open lawn space and several public art elements.
Adjoining the grassed area is a large media screen and a stage with AV infrastructure to support wide-ranging community performances and events. The screen has been used for public announcements, movie nights, public performances and to display art, including ‘Cloud Rock Story’ - an animated film featuring David Stock and Billy Yunkarra Atkins (dec) that tells a traditional story shared by the Martu and Nyiyaparli people.
Screening of Cloud Rock Story, 2017 - a short animated film that tells a traditional story shared by the Martu & Nyiyaparli people featuring David Stock and Billy Yunkarra Atkins (dec). It was adapted for screening in the Newman Town Square. Directed by Lynette Wallworth with animation & editing by Sohan Ariel Hayes.
The Cloud Rock story, as shared by Martu and Nyiyaparli Traditional Owners and Custodians during an art workshop in 2015, also inspired the development of other artworks throughout the site. These artworks reinforce the story and add interactive and tactile qualities through water and lighting, which are especially popular with children.
With its open spaces, artworks, large shade structures, business incubator, commercial kitchen, public toilets and mezzanine function space, Newman Town Square offers the community an inclusive, accessible and welcoming place to meet, relax, rest and celebrate the diversity of culture, heritage and art.
Details:
Client: LandCorp and Shire of East Pilbara
Aboriginal Country: Nyiyaparli Country (Traditional Owners), Martu people (Custodians)
Location: Newman, WA
Dates: 2013 - 2018
Collaborators: LandCorp; Shire of East Pilbara; the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Newman, Nyiyaparli and Martu; Cameron Chisolm Nicol; JDSI engineers; artists Lynette Wallworth, Sohan Ariel Hayes, Little Rhino Designs and Jahne Rees; and the community of Newman
