Dharawal Nature Playspace & Simmos Beach Parkland Projects

Tika EQ was engaged by Arcadia Landscape Architecture and Campbelltown City Council as the Connecting with Country consultants for two significant community projects; the Dharawal Nature Playspace and Simmos Beach Parklands.

Both projects sit on Dharawal Country, within the Georges River catchment, an area of deep cultural and ecological significance. Guided by the NSW Government Architect’s Connecting with Country Framework, these projects sought to embed Dharawal cultural values, local knowledge, and environmental stewardship into the design and delivery of spaces that welcome both play and reflection.

Understanding Country

The Dharawal people are the Traditional Custodians of this region, where the Georges River and its tributaries have long supported life, ceremony, and knowledge-sharing. These waterways remain vital to the cultural identity and ecological balance of the area.

Through a process of cultural consultation and co-design, the projects drew upon local stories, including the Djamalung (Platypus) and Djawula (Lyrebird) - two spiritual guides that represent curiosity, listening, and harmony.

• Djamalung inspired the design of the Dharawal Nature Playspace, where movement, exploration, and learning unfold through water, tracks, and rippling pathways.
• Djawula guided the Simmos Beach Parklands design, shaping spaces for reflection, gathering, and deep listening within the forested riverside landscape.

Community and Collaboration

Tika EQ facilitated on-Country workshops and a series of playback sessions with Dharawal Elders, Knowledge Holders, and community representatives. These sessions informed the design philosophy and material expression of both sites, ensuring authenticity and ongoing cultural leadership throughout the process.

Key priorities from consultation included:

• Embedding Dharawal language and local stories in interpretive features.
• Ensuring weaving plants such as Lomandra and reeds were planted near gathering areas to support cultural practice.
• Creating yarning circles and shaded reflection zones, particularly at Simmos Beach, to support intergenerational learning.
• Designing interactive educational features – including QR storytelling and sculptural “Easter Egg” moments that invite curiosity and discovery

Design Principles

The Connecting with Country framework translated into clear, actionable design directions for both sites:

• Country as Teacher – Water, vegetation, and topography guide the design, helping visitors learn directly from the landscape.
• Movement as Memory – Pathways follow natural rhythms, echoing creek lines and traditional travel routes.
• Kinship and Connection – Play and gathering spaces encourage interaction across generations, reflecting relationships of care.
• Cultural Continuity – Natural materials like sandstone, timber, and ochres maintain a tactile, grounded connection to place.
• Living Storytelling – Dharawal fauna and stories are woven through the design to celebrate living culture and ongoing custodianship.

Outcome and Legacy

The Dharawal Nature Playspace and Simmos Beach Parklands are envisioned as living cultural landscapes - places that inspire play, ecological learning, and quiet reflection. They demonstrate how Connecting with Country can guide councils and design teams to create spaces that are inclusive, respectful, and enduringly connected to place.

Through these projects, Campbelltown City Council continues to champion an approach to urban design that honours Dharawal leadership, embeds cultural authorship, and strengthens relationships between people and Country.