Osborne Park hospital expansion
nesting tree courtyard artworks

Intent of the artwork

The secondary entrance to the Hospital is located at the family birth centre drop off via Limosa Close.

Located adjacent to this entry is a large courtyard space, home to a black cockatoo nesting site and several balga trees (note: balga trees being relocated), the artworks here are intended to create opportunities for passive education relating to the cultural significance of the nesting tree, the black cockatoo, and local flora and fauna in Noongar culture.

The artwork/s may incorporate small scale sculptures placed throughout the landscape, treatments to the ground plane such as patterned or text-based etching or inlays, and treatments of the nesting tree itself.

This location also offers the potential for reuse of timber from the trees removed from site, creating further environmental and site history connections.

Cultural content

Some artworks may feature cultural content; however this opportunity is not restricted to Whadjuk Noongar artists only.  

The relevant cultural context for this location includes the deep significance of local flora and fauna in Noongar culture. This encompasses the balga (grass tree), which is central to cultural practices and knowledge systems, including traditional fire management and associated women’s roles in caring for Country. It also includes the black cockatoo and the mature nesting trees that support its life cycle, all of which hold cultural, ecological, and spiritual importance for Noongar people. Works developed in this location may also reference women’s cultural practices related to gathering, nesting, and preparation for family life, reflecting broader themes of nurturing, continuity, and connection to place.

Artists engaging with these cultural themes must have cultural authority to do so.

Scope

The artist’s scope includes the design, fabrication and installation of any sculptural components, and the design only for any integrated ground plane treatments.

This opportunity is suited to a diverse range of creatives. The final commissioned work/s may include written artworks, sculptural components, sound-based works, and a variety of other artforms.

The artist/s will be required to work closely with the architectural design team on these commissions, to ensure the proposal complements the design, complies to Australian codes and standards, and is within budget (budget to be provided in next stage of procurement process).