Follow the Creek is an interactive place-activation project exploring the water narratives of the UTS precinct. This short walk with place-based activations traces stories of Tjerruing /Blackwattle Creek, next to UTS campus. Blackwattle Creek and Swamp were a wetland alive with plants and animals, including Tjerruing (Callicoma serratifolia).

D’harawal, Dharug, Eora, Gaimaragal, Gundangara and Guringai peoples hold the stories of this place. In early Sydney, the creek provided water to market gardens. In 1804, Harris reshaped this land as an English estate. Deers pranced about, and chickens were stolen. Later, noxious trades and their stench defined the area: slaughterhouses turned the creek red; a brewery discharged into its waters; timber yards lined its banks; workers lived in slums and grew exotic plants for food. The creek became a sewer and stormwater channel.

We invite you to walk, slow down, take notice, and, to engage with the layered histories of this place.

Follow the ibis and let your imagination reclaim the swamp.

Note: Bring water, walking shoes, sunscreen and appropriate weather gear. A sketchbook, notebook, camera, or phone if you want to take notes, draw or take photos.

This event is held in association with the Australian Academy of the Humanities 56th Annual Academy Symposium | The Humanities & creative practice and showcases the work of the Follow the Creek team, Dr Sarah Jane Jones (Senior Lecturer, UTS), Prof Alexandra Crosby, A/Prof Ilaria Vanni, Holly O’Neil (PhD Candidate), Kate Bowan and Dr Shannon Foster at Bangawarra.

IMAGE by Holly O'Neil