A powerful new landmark now rises over Western Sydney with the completion of the ‘Great Emu in the Sky’ — a striking illuminated sculpture that anchors the M12 Motorway’s Aboriginal Art Strategy, co-designed by Balarinji Studio with locally connected Aboriginal knowledge holders and commissioned by Transport for NSW.
Constructed and installed by CPB Contractors and Georgiou in joint venture as part of the M12 West package, the artwork represents more than design excellence — it’s a bold statement of connection between culture, community and construction.
Positioned near the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, it Tells the Dhaurg story of how Mariong, the Emu and Mother Spirit, became the Milky Way. — reflecting interconnectedness, custodianship and Western Sydney’s unique Aboriginal culture.
This culturally-significant sculpture was co-created by Aboriginal artists: Danny Eastwood, Jamie Eastwood, Danielle Mate, Jasmine Seymour, Leanne Watson and Balarinji Studio, and was conceived by Balarinji lead artist on the work’s genesis, Tim Moriarty.
More than a motorway
The Great Emu in the Sky isn’t just a centrepiece — it’s part of a broader Aboriginal Public Art Collection curated by Balarinji Studio for the M12 West project. Alongside the new 6.1km dual carriageway, the team delivered:
- The ‘Great Emu in the Sky’ sculpture:– built from 3.8km of locally fabricated steel and assembled on site. More than 1,100 lights shimmer across its form, revealing two emu forms, each only visible from certain viewpoints; one sitting on the nest and one in the night sky. The Aboriginal Six Seasons of Western Sydney are represented by projected colour washes that reflect the current season.
- Five eucalypt leaf canopy structures:– Co-designed by Balarinji Studio with Aboriginal artists Barry Gunther, Jamie Eastwood and Jasmine Seymour and highlighting the Aboriginal Six Seasons of Western Sydney, offering shade and shifting light patterns along the shared path.
- Three overbridge artworks: – Curated and co-created by Balarinji Studio with a cohort of Aboriginal artists, depicting a seasonal Dharug story of the emu
Together, these elements create a rich and layered experience that acknowledges the area’s rich Aboriginal and cultural heritage as well as today’s local Aboriginal community.
A project built with care, delivered with pride and collaboration
Bringing the ‘Great Emu in the Sky’ sculpture to life took close collaboration between Balarinji Studio and the cohort of Aboriginal artists, Transport for NSW, Event Engineering, local suppliers, engineers and delivery teams. From the reinforced raft foundation to 900 uniquely fabricated steel branches, every detail reflects a shared commitment to quality, culture and community.
As Western Sydney grows around its new airport, the ‘Great Emu in the Sky’ will stand as a powerful symbol — of connection to Country, and of the people who helped shape this place. Positioned alongside the future airport and metro corridor, the artwork creates a gateway experience — greeting those arriving in Western Sydney by road, rail or air.
“This project goes beyond roadbuilding,” says Nick Fryday, Georgiou’s General Manager NSW. “It shows how infrastructure can honour Country, and uplift the communities we build in. We’re proud to have helped create something that will welcome the world to Western Sydney. The ‘Great Emu in the Sky’ is more than a marker — it’s a legacy.”
