Sydney’s blessed with a seemingly infinite capacity to surprise and charm. It may be a street you’ve never walked before. A building you’ve never noticed until today. A new perspective perhaps, the discovery of fascinating fragments of our turbulent history. Even something as familiar as the Harbour can still reveal well-kept secrets, unfolding a rich past in the midst of modernity. Leave the hustle and bustle of The Rocks, step quietly past the posing brides, pause to marvel at the great grey bridge that soars up from its granite towers above you and find yourself in Walsh Bay, where everything old is new again.

Discover Ngabu

A stunning temporary public art installation located on the Hickson Road overbridge between Shore 2/3 and Pottinger Street Park. Created by Aunty Lola Ryan, a proud Dharawal Elder from La Perouse, this remarkable installation honours the tradition of shell art, a practice cherished and passed down through generations in her family. 

This installation elevates shell art to a grand new dimension, with its colourful patterns adorning the bridge, offering a unique visual treat alongside the iconic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

About Ngabu 

Ngabu (meaning “Nan/Grandmother” in Dharawal) is a vibrant installation mounted on the overhead bridge on Hickson Road at Walsh Bay. This awe-inspiring artwork pays tribute to Aunty Lola’s late mother, Aunty Lola Delia Ryan, whose shell harbour bridges are now part of prominent cultural collections, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). 

Augmented Reality Treasure Hunt 

Aside from the beautiful shell installation, the Ngabu journey continues via an augmented reality (AR) treasure hunt around Walsh Bay. This interactive activity invites you to explore the area by using your smartphone to uncover hidden shell icons along the foreshore. Each discovery unlocks an audio-visual interpretation of local stories and cultural history. 

Ngabu is proudly supported by the Walsh Bay Precinct Association through funding from Transport for NSW’s Community Improvement District Pilot Program, Create NSW, and the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner’s Uptown District Acceleration Program. 

Free, open daily from Friday 17 January 2025 through to 27 April 2025

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Artist Aunty Lola Ryan "Ngabu 2025".
 Image "Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport"

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Ngabu, by Aunty Lola Ryan, an interactive artwork inspired by Dharawal shel artists from La Perouse. Installation, 2025. Overhead bridge at corner of Hickson Rd and Pottinger St. Walsh Bay Arts Precinct - Sydney, Gadigal Country. 

Image: "Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport"

 
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HERITAGE

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ARTS

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DINING

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BUSINESS

 
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THE PLACE TO DINE

Explore beautifully restored, heritage wharves and experience more than a dozen outstanding eateries, world class theatre and dance; or beauty indulgence – all in a spectacular waterfront setting, in the shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

 
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THE PLACE TO LIVE

Where everything old is new again...

Walsh Bay Walking Tours App

A new, user-friendly self-guided walking tour app has been developed by Walsh Bay Arts and Commerce and its development partner Orama Communications with funding support from the City of Sydney. 

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