Anaiwan woman and artist Aunty Sharon Cutmore will create a large‑scale earth artwork as the centrepiece of Armidale Regional Council’s Australia Day 2026 celebrations at Dumaresq Dam.
Council says the work will sit at the heart of its “beach party” program at the dam, giving people a chance to experience creativity grounded in tradition and respect for the land. Aunty Sharon’s practice uses natural earth and sand to tell stories about culture, identity and the environment, shaped directly on the ground rather than in a gallery.
She works in education and as a cultural adviser at a local school, and describes earth art as a way to express her connection to the places she comes from and to the people she shares them with. Her design for Australia Day focuses on “connection”, drawing together towns and communities across the region (large and small) to show how they are linked.
A key part of her message is truth‑telling. Aunty Sharon has said she wants to share stories about Australia’s black history, including the violence and dispossession experienced by Aboriginal peoples, in a way that fosters understanding rather than division. She has been creating earth artworks for more than a decade, and often talks about taking only what we need from the land and giving back to it in return.
Dumaresq Dam is also personally important to her. She recalls going there for family gatherings while growing up in Armidale and says returning to create an artwork on that shoreline, with her mother watching on, will be especially meaningful.
The day itself begins in town with a 10.30 am citizenship ceremony and Australia Day Awards, before the focus shifts to the dam from midday with games for children, a rowing demonstration, a guided cultural walk, tree planting, free ice cream and a community barbecue. A free bus will shuttle people between the visitor information centre and Dumaresq Dam through the day.
Mayor Sam Coupland has welcomed Aunty Sharon’s involvement, saying council expects the work to be visually striking while also carrying a strong cultural message that deepens understanding of Aboriginal culture in the region.
The National Australia Day Council describes the day’s theme as “Reflect. Respect. Celebrate.” – a chance to reflect on more than 65,000 years of First Nations history, respect the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and celebrate communities coming together.
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