Edge of the Trees, Public art sculpture at Museum of Sydney, Australia
Edge of the Trees is a public art installation featuring twenty-nine tall pillars made of sandstone, wood, and steel that create a forest-like structure at the Museum of Sydney entrance. The pillars are arranged to form a walkable space that welcomes visitors while establishing a strong visual presence.
Created in 1995, the installation marks the location where Aboriginal people witnessed the arrival of European settlers on the Australian coast in 1788. The work establishes a symbolic connection between a pivotal moment in colonial contact history and the actual place where it unfolded.
Each pillar honors one of the twenty-nine Aboriginal clans from the Sydney region, with names inscribed in both English and Indigenous languages.
The installation sits at the corner of Phillip and Bridge Streets and remains viewable during museum hours, typically from 10 AM to 5 PM. Viewing is free and requires no special arrangements, making it easy to visit along with other nearby attractions.
The pillars contain embedded materials including human hair, shells, bones, feathers, and ash that symbolize the connection between people and land. These personal elements transform the installation into a physical vessel holding human memory and continuity across generations.
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