Young Kamilaroi artist rolls out welcome mat with warmth and culture
by Josh Leeson · Newcastle HeraldWhen visitors enter the Port of Newcastle, Indigenous artist Alliyah Bromell hopes the overriding feeling is welcoming.
That vibe will be served by the 18-year-old's eight-metre-high painting, Ties between water and land, which was officially revealed on Tuesday at Carrington's Dyke Point.
The waterfront billboard replaced Wonnarua woman Saretta Fielding's artwork, which has served as the port's welcome sign since 2020.
"I want it to feel like it's welcoming you here," Ms Bromell told the Newcastle Herald.
"Enjoy it, experience it, and really see how beautiful it is.
"I want them to kind of feel that through the colours, through the vibrancy, through obviously what I've put onto the artwork.
"I wanted to push out the feeling of warmth and welcomingness."
The Kamilaroi woman lives at Branxton and grew up on Wonnarua, Worimi, and Awabakal land.
Using blue, aqua, gold and brown tones, Ms Bromell said the work represented the blending of coastal Awabakal culture with Wonnarua, from further up the Hunter Valley.
"My main inspiration for it was my upbringing and what I've been exposed to and what I know and experienced growing up on these countries, because this isn't originally where my mob is from," she said.
"I really wanted to emphasise the ties between the land and the water within the port."
The Port of Newcastle environmental, social, governance, and sustainability manager, Ruth Madden, said Ms Bromell's work was chosen after the popularity of Ms Fielding's artwork.
"When it came time to renew the sign, we wanted to give Alliyah's work the same prominent place to share its story of connection between the port, the water, and the community," Ms Madden said.
"The port is committed to the social, economic, and environmental outcomes of this region, so we are honoured to be able to feature the work of an incredible, local Indigenous artist like Alliyah at such a recognisable waterfront location."
The original artwork hangs at Port of Newcastle's Wharf Road office and has also been featured as part of the port's Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan and on its fleet of electric vehicles.
Ms Bromell said she was ecstatic to see her artwork presented on such a large canvas in a public space.
"The mural that's at the Newcastle Interchange - when Matt Adnate was painting that, I actually went with him, and I got to experience him doing an artwork in the centre of Newcastle," she said.
"I was a 16-year-old watching somebody else do that, and now my artwork's actually going to be up there [at the port] at such a young age; it's surreal."
Art has completely transformed Ms Bromell's life. At 15 she started her Indigenous art business, Pearl Dream Painting, and shortly after won a Department of Education art competition.
The former Kurri Kurri High School student was honoured as Cessnock City Council's Young Citizen of the Year in 2024 for her youth advocacy.
A fortnight ago, Ms Bromell visited Parliament House, where she represented the Aboriginal Community Housing Industry Association (ACHIA) NSW and spoke with Aboriginal independent Senator Lidia Thorpe and Labor MP for Hunter Dan Repacholi.
Her advice to politicians was that there needed to be greater practical education at a secondary level to teach students about transitioning into adulthood.
"We go to school, and we learn all sorts of things, and it is handy, it is helpful, and it does help," she said.
"But we're not learning, 'This is how you apply for a rental; this is what you need to be able to gather the right things to be able to get this'.'"