Violets Park

This park is named after the mother of Ngunnawal elder Agnes Shea’s AO (pictured above) Violet Bulger. The photos below show the opening festivities in May 2017 when the sign and artwork were unveiled.

Why is this interesting?

The extraordinary life of Ngunnawal elder Violet Bulger has been commemorated in this park that bears her name. Born in Brungle Aboriginal Station near Tumut, Ms Bulger (1900-93) was one of the first Aboriginal children to be forcibly removed from their family.

She came to Canberra in the mid-1980s after attending the Cootamundra Girls Training Home then living on Aboriginal reserves in Yass raising her family. Her eldest daughter and only surviving child ‘Auntie Agnes Shea’ was only made aware of this park’s link to her mother recently.

The sculptured seat called ‘Meeting Place’ is made from Apple-box and granite and was created by sculptor Tony Steel and emerging Aboriginal artist Brett Carpenter.