Mundanara Bayles was born and raised in Redfern. Ten generations of her family have an unbroken connection to the Block. Her parents met in Redfern at the height of the Aboriginal civil rights movement, and her father went on to chair the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. The exhibition this walk moves through names Sydney as the birthplace of that movement. That is not background reading. That is her family.

The walk begins at the front door of Customs House at Circular Quay, where your group is welcomed to Gadigal Country with a smoking ceremony before anyone takes a step. From there you move through Customs House itself: the large mural City of Sydney uses across its own branding, and Barani / Barrabugu, the free exhibition made in partnership with Boomalli Aboriginal Art Co, covering the places, people and events that shaped Aboriginal Sydney.

Then out into the city. Jessie Street Memorial Park, named for the woman who campaigned for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be counted in the census, work that carried into the 1967 referendum. Back through Circular Quay, where the ferries carry the names of Aboriginal warriors, Bennelong and Bungaree among them. Up the Opera House steps, where you get the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the far older story of the harbour underneath both.

The walk closes at bara, Judy Watson’s six and a half metre marble sculpture in the Royal Botanic Garden. It takes the form of the shell fish hook that Gadigal women crafted and used for thousands of generations, fishing from their nawi, their canoes, hauling their catch on carrejun, bush string, and cooking it over open fires. Your group photograph is taken here, with the Harbour Bridge behind you.

BlackCard has been telling these stories for thirteen years. The training arm works with much of the ASX 300, with Reconciliation Australia, and with the Supply Nation board, and Tourism Australia has rolled BlackCard training out to its staff worldwide. The Brisbane walking tours have been running for seven years.

Your group only, up to twelve people. Departures every hour from 9am to 3pm, seven days a week. One flat rate for the whole group.

HIGHLIGHTS

A private walk for your group only, no other guests, up to twelve people

Hourly departures from 9am to 3pm, seven days a week, pick the time that suits your group

Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony for your group before the walk begins

Led by an Aboriginal guide, ten generations of connection to Redfern

Named works by Kim Healey, Judy Watson and the artists City of Sydney commissions

Barani / Barrabugu at Customs House, made with Boomalli Aboriginal Art Co

Closes at bara in the Royal Botanic Garden, with a group photograph

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Private ninety minute guided walk for your group, led by an Aboriginal guide

Exclusive use of the walk, up to twelve guests, no other guests joining

Welcome to Country

Traditional smoking ceremony at Customs House, included on every departure

Entry to Barani / Barrabugu, the free City of Sydney exhibition at Customs House

Group photograph at bara with the Harbour Bridge behind

Your choice of departure time, hourly from 9am to 3pm

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Food and drink

Gratuities

Transport to and from the meeting point

WHO THIS IS FOR

Corporate and team groups, conference and incentive programmes, schools and universities, families and friends travelling together, and any group that would rather have the guide to themselves. One flat rate covers the group, so there is no per head maths to do.

ITINERARY

Stop 1. Customs House forecourt, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay. Your group is met at the front door. Welcome to Gadigal Country and a smoking ceremony before the walk begins.

Stop 2. Customs House, the mural. The first large mural on the right hand side. Jagun (Country), 2022, by Kim Healey, a Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr woman. It is an acknowledgement and celebration of First Nations peoples and cultures, and it is the artwork City of Sydney uses across its own branding, including its staff lanyards.

Stop 3. Customs House, Sydney’s Aboriginal Story. The wall installation the walk takes its name from. Your guide speaks here about growing up in Redfern and what she has witnessed across her own lifetime. Also at this stop, the Welcome to Redfern mural featuring the Redfern All Blacks rugby league team, photographed by Louise Hawson.

Stop 4. Barani / Barrabugu (Yesterday / Tomorrow), Customs House ground floor. The free City of Sydney exhibition made in partnership with Boomalli Aboriginal Art Co, covering the places, people and events that shaped Aboriginal Sydney. Walked through self-determination, education and performing arts, then into your guide’s own family history. The exhibition names Sydney as the birthplace of the Aboriginal civil rights movement.

Stop 5. Jessie Street Memorial Park. Out of Customs House to the park. Jessie Street campaigned for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be counted in the census, and her advocacy carried into the 1967 referendum.

Stop 6. Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House steps. Back through Circular Quay and up the Opera House steps. The Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the older story of the harbour underneath both. The walk often passes Sydney Ferries named for Aboriginal warriors, including Bennelong and Bungaree.

Stop 7. bara, by Judy Watson, Royal Botanic Garden. The close of the walk. bara, 2022, is a 6.4 metre marble sculpture by the Waanyi artist Judy Watson, honouring the clans of the Eora Nation. It takes the form of the shell fish hook crafted and used by Gadigal women for thousands of generations. Women fished from their nawi, their canoes, hauling their catch with bara tied to carrejun, bush string, and cooked it over open fires. Your group photograph is taken here with the Harbour Bridge behind.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Departures run every hour from 9am to 3pm, seven days a week. Choose the start time that suits your group when you book.

Mundanara Bayles guides where her schedule allows. Her availability is confirmed at the time of booking. Every walk is led by an Aboriginal guide.

Meet at the front door of Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, facing the Quay.

Customs House sits directly opposite Circular Quay station and the ferry wharves. If you are standing at the wharves with the water behind you, it is the sandstone building in front of you.

Arrive a few minutes early. The smoking ceremony opens the walk and starts on time.

This is a walking tour on city footpaths and it covers roughly one and a half kilometres over ninety minutes, including the Sydney Opera House steps.

The walk is not wheelchair accessible.

We are not currently able to offer support for guests with a visual or hearing impairment.

Children aged six and above are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

Prams are welcome.

Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a hat, water and sun protection in warmer months.

The walk runs in light rain. Bring a jacket.

The smoking ceremony involves smoke from native plants. Let us know before departure if anyone in your group has a respiratory condition.

Up to twelve guests per private departure.

One booking secures the whole departure. Tell us your final guest numbers when you book, up to twelve.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours of the start time are non-refundable.