Dyoondalup Point Walter playground has been recognised for its culturally authentic works at a State-wide awards night.
The City of Melville received the Playspace Award (under $1 million) at the Parks and Leisure Australia WA 2026 Awards of Excellence on Thursday, 11 June for Bicton-based playground, which the City worked with Nature Play Solutions.
Point Walter or Dyoondalup, meaning ‘place of white sand’ in Noongar language, is a site of deep cultural significance to First Nations’ People and traditionally associated with women and children.
The playground, which officially opened in December 2025, features artwork from Noongar artist Sharyn Egan who was commissioned to interpret those stories into visual artworks integrated throughout the playground.
The central story in the design is about a tall female spirit with long, flowing white hair who gathered spirit children into her hair.
According to Noongar belief, a lock of Djunda’s hair was carried by the wind, forming the sandbar across the Swan River. This story is reflected in the playground’s tower structure, which symbolises Djunda’s presence, and in the artwork elements dispersed throughout the site that reference this powerful cultural narrative.
At the opening in December, Auntie Marie Taylor was invited to share her knowledge of the site’s traditional use, historical context and cultural stories with students from Bicton Primary School and Richmond Primary School.
Attribute the following comments to City of Melville Mayor Katy Mair:
“This Playspace Award at the Parks and Leisure Australia WA 2026 Awards of Excellence is recognition for the authentic First Nations stories that have been told through the Dyoondalup Point Walter playground.
“The City was pleased to work with Nature Play Solutions on this playground which is located on a site of deep cultural significance to First Nations’ People.
“We are committed to creating healthy safe and inclusive communities with a sense of belonging and wellbeing and the Dyoondalup Point Walter playground is a great example of the City providing an inclusive space for our community.
“We also have a strong focus on reconciliation too through our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan initiatives through which we strive to recognise and respect First Nations peoples, develop strong relationships and help overcome inequity.”