'Hawkesbury' Exhibition Art2Muse Gallery November 2023

Coba Point, Hawkesbury River Image: Ryan Jenkins

I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming exhibition at Art2Muse in Woollahra, Sydney. The exhibition will take place from 14th to 27th November, with the opening Saturday 18th November. This oeuvre showcases a series of artworks inspired by my recent journey to the breathtaking Hawkesbury River region in New South Wales.

During this trip, my primary objective was to capture the essence of the landscape and the rich vegetation found within this environmentally preserved area, with a particular focus on Coba Point and the surrounding Berowra Creek area. This project was not only about visually representing the area but also delving into its historical significance, employing a variety of mediums including painting, photography, and video to create a comprehensive record.

This new collection of artwork, which depicts the Australian landscape, embodies a recurring theme present in our work: the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world.

The process of creating these paintings began with me immersing myself in the landscape, meticulously sketching and taking notes on the vegetation, colours, and textures. This initial connection with the environment led to the creation of small en plein air (in the open air) oil paintings. These smaller pieces are compiled with other documentation, which are then returned to the studio, serving as valuable resources for the development of larger pieces to be featured in the exhibition.

The following are some historical facts about the area of the Hawkesbury where we placed our interest.

COBA POINT

Coba Point is located on the western side of Berowra Creek, upstream from Marramarra Creek's entry. A survey map from 1904 shows Coba Bay, but the place's name is considerably older. The word "cobar,” means "red clay or burnt earth used to decorate the body," and is Aboriginal in origin.

Beauty Point also known as Coba Point is situated at the mouth of Coba Bay on Berowra Creek in the Hornsby Shire. The western bank of Berowra Creek, which had previously belonged to the Dharug people, was progressively inhabited by Europeans in the nineteenth century. Joseph Rae received the first property grant on Beauty Point for 40 acres (16 hectares), but by 1905, John Kelly became the owner. The beachfront portion of such site has since been partitioned with approximately sixty houses along the shoreline.

BEROWRA

Many years before European colonisation in Australia, the Berowra Creek narrative began. The Aboriginal people were the first to see and utilise the river and the larger Berowra region. Berowra Creek lies between the first nation lands of the Dhurag and Guringai people. It may have served as a gathering spot for the people rather than a traditional settlement site.

The notebooks of Lieutenant William Dawes offer yet another interpretation of the name. He translates the word “Berara”, to mean either fishhooks or shells (depending on how it is spelled). This could be a more plausible possibility as the name, Berara, was initially given to the river, and the river is home to numerous shell middens (midden: area which contains the remains of shellfish eaten by Aboriginal people). The true origin of the name Berowra remains shrouded in mystery.

BAR ISLAND

Bar Island lies near the mouth of Berowra Creek, and was formerly known as Goville Island, the reason for this is unknown. Numerous remnants of Aboriginal use are still found along the Hawkesbury River with countless layers of shell middens lining the sides of the river’s islands. Some of the middens are so densely packed with shell debris that the footprints along the edges of the creek often reveal fractured shells as they cut through. These are still found on Bar Island together with evidence of colonial settlement, including remains of a cemetery, cottage, and church.

TWIN BEACH, MARRAMARRA NATIONAL PARK

Marramarra National Park, spans over 11,500 hectares of untamed woodland and lies between the Old Northern Road, Berowra Creek, and the Hawkesbury River. The national park was created in 1979. Its name is derived from Marramarra Creek, which originates in the Dural area and flows into Berowra Creek. The term "marramarra" is said to be of Aboriginal origin signifying “many fish’

COBA LOCALS

Even today, folks looking for leisure and a gentler pace of life continue to be drawn to the Hawkesbury region. We are dedicated to upholding the legacy of Coba Point, Marramarra National Park, Berowra Waters, and the broader Hawkesbury region by sharing the history and tales of the current residents.

While staying at Coba Point, we had the privilege to meet Warren Robilliard, the original owner of 10 Coba Point where we stayed. Fortune would have it that he was vising the neighbours next door, the Suttons.

It was in the original little weatherboard house, from the 1940s through the 1960s, that Warren spent weekends and holidays with his five siblings, mother, and father. He regaled us with tales of catching enormous jew fish in the waterways, going crab fishing in Sunny Corner, and encounters with the squatter Ernie who lived behind the home.

These stories carry forward the rich tradition of this lovely and enigmatic waterway, Hawkesbury River.

We would like to recognise the Traditional Owners of the land surrounding the Hawkesbury River, the Darug and Guringai peoples. We pay our respects to their ancestors and elders past, present and emerging. We honour their heritage.

A book about the experience and history of the area is complementary when purchasing artwork from the forthcoming exhibition.

Yours in art,

Rebecca