Book direct for the best rates & perks!
Book direct for the best rates & perks!
Book direct for the best rates & perks!
Sydney is Gadigal land. Gadi comes from Cadi (kad-i), which is the name for the grass trees our the original owner’s of the land used to make weapons. And Gal (guhl) means people, the people of the Cadi—Gadigal.
The Gadigal folks have deep roots in this land, crafting tools, sharing stories, and preserving their heritage. Acknowledging Aboriginal cultural heritage and Traditional Place names isn’t just about geography; it’s about celebrating a shared history. This is Australia’s history, and it is important to know where we come from to know where we’re going. As you explore Sydney, think about the layers of history beneath your feet, and take a moment to honour the Gadigal people who have been the heart and soul of this land long before the skyscrapers touched the sky.
The Gadigal (Aboriginal name for Sydney) people of the Eora Nation, which means ‘here’ or ‘from this place,’ encompasses over 250 unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language groups. As the Traditional Owners, they have a deep connection to the land, embodying an extensive knowledge of its history, culture, ecology, and sacred songlines. Sydney, now a bustling metropolis, was originally inhabited by these custodians who lived in harmony with the land, ensuring its preservation and the continuation of their ancient traditions.
Landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are modern marvels and symbols of Australia’s progress, but they stand on land that holds a much deeper, ancient significance. The harbour area, known to the Gadigal people as Tubowgule, was and remains a place of great cultural importance.
Native Australian ingredients have a host of health benefits that Aboriginal communities have recognised for millennia. These ingredients, harnessed for food and medicine, now appear on menus across the city.
For a hands-on experience, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney offers Aboriginal Tours Sydney residents and visitors can take to try bush tucker. Guided by experts, you’ll wander through the gardens and learn about the diverse native plants traditionally used for food and medicine. This tour takes you through the Cadi Jam Ora, a special area with plants that the Gadigal people have utilised for centuries. To complement the tour, the Aboriginal Bush Tucker Lunch experience provides an opportunity to taste these unique ingredients and learn traditional preparation methods, giving you ideas on incorporating bush foods into your everyday meals.
About 45 minutes northwest of Sydney’s CBD, the Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural and Education Centre in Rouse Hill offers another immersive bush tucker experience. The thriving Muru Nursery cultivates various bush tucker plants from across Australia. Tours at Muru Mittigar reveal which plants thrive in different parts of the country, providing a deeper understanding of Australia’s native flora. Foraging tours, like those offered by Guringai Aboriginal Tours in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Kadoo Tours in La Perouse, allow you to discover and taste bush tucker in its natural habitat.
Sydney’s culinary scene has also embraced the flavours of bush tucker. Renowned chefs like Peter Gilmore of Quay at The Rocks and Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House have incorporated native ingredients into their high-end dishes. From prime proteins to native greens and herbs, these elements add a unique twist to modern cuisine. At Saké, a modern Japanese restaurant, you can savour dishes like tuna ceviche enhanced with traditional lime. For a unique drink, head to The Langham Sydney’s Observatory Lounge, where you can sip on gin martinis infused with green ants and other native flavours like saltbush and lemon myrtle.
If you’re keen to learn more about Indigenous Art, Sydney has an array of options that will show you the rich cultural tapestry of Australia’s First Nations people.
One of the most dynamic places to shop for Aboriginal art is Sydney’s renowned Blak Markets. Held eight times a year, this vibrant pop-up marketplace is a treasure trove of Aboriginal art and craft, clothes, jewellery, bush foods, and beauty products. The Blak Markets also feature live Indigenous performers, cultural presentations, and art workshops, making it a lively cultural experience. Be sure to check the Blak Markets website for exact locations and dates as they move around Sydney throughout the year.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in The Rocks has a significant collection of Indigenous art from across Australia, featuring everything from paintings and sculptures to photography. It’s a great place to see contemporary Aboriginal art in a modern setting.
The Yiribana Gallery at the Art Gallery of NSW is one of the largest spaces dedicated to Indigenous art in Australia. It offers an extensive collection that celebrates Aboriginal art’s diversity and vibrancy. Here, you can find works that span various styles and mediums, providing a comprehensive look at Aboriginal communities’ artistic traditions.
For those interested in the historical aspects of Aboriginal art, the Australian Museum opposite Hyde Park is the spot. It houses written texts, images, and artefacts that highlight Aboriginal Australia’s diversity and trace European society’s impact on Indigenous cultures. The museum’s collection provides a deeper understanding of Aboriginal people’s history and resilience.
To experience Aboriginal art in its most authentic form, head to Sydney Harbour National Park. The park is home to several well-preserved rock engravings made by the region’s Aboriginal inhabitants. One of the best sites to view these engravings is Grotto Point at Dobroyd Head.
Here, you can see detailed carvings of humans, marine, and land animals, including a giant kangaroo, boomerangs, a whale, and several small fish. The site features timber enclosures to protect the engravings and informative signs that provide context and history. For an even richer experience, look for axe-grinding grooves around the harbour foreshores and creek lines.
The best Indigenous art galleries in Sydney include the Yiribana Gallery at the Art Gallery of NSW, one of Australia’s largest spaces dedicated to Aboriginal art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in The Rocks, which boasts a significant collection of Indigenous art from across the country.
The Veriu Central Hotel in Sydney is located in Wentworth House and is surrounded by cafes, art houses, and easy access to the heart of the city. You can explore Sydney’s Indigenous heritage with ease while heading back to a modern, comfortable apartments like Veriu Broadway, Veriu Camperdown, Veriu Randwick and Veriu Green Square to rest up for the next day.
