The City of Melbourne is proud to be the host city for the Australian Reconciliation Convention. Reconciliation is an evolution in its own right.
Consultation is the key.
Local Government has a responsibility for supporting and fostering Koori art forms and the preservation of Indigenous heritage. We have taken the lead in providing the opportunity for the integration of Aboriginal content into Melbourne's rich tapestry of public art works. For example, in 1993, the City of Melbourne commissioned two Aboriginal artists, Marie Clarke and Sonja Hodge, to paint poles in Swanston Street, opposite the City Square at the corner of Collins Street. The result is traditional Aboriginal designs, including images of the Rainbow Serpent being celebrated in one of Melbourne's public spaces. I would draw your attention to the public art installation 'Lie of the Land', unveiled in front of the Town Hall in Swanston Street last week, to coincide with this Convention.