New Yarra Park bins to recognise Traditional Owners

Visitors will be welcomed to Yarra Park in Woiwurrung, the traditional language, of the Wurundjeri People, with a suite of new bins designed with the word ‘Wominjeka’, fitted around the precinct.

The new bins, installed in partnership with leading energy retailer, EnergyAustralia, look to further enhance the connection with Yarra Park, a place of cultural and historical significance for the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

Yarra Park was a meeting place for First Nations People, with the land used for ceremonies and renewals for thousands of years.

The bins are wrapped in artwork designed by Wurundjeri woman Mandy Nicholson. The design depicts Mannagum, which is a sign for ‘welcome’ for the Wurundjeri People. The word ‘Wominjeka’ is written on the side of the bins, the Woiwurrung word for ‘hello’ and ‘welcome’.

The artwork provides a further breakdown of the word, with specific meanings from the Woi-wurrung language:

• “Womin” – to come from somewhere



• “Dji” – I’m instructing you to come



• “Ka” – purpose

Mandy Nicholson further explained the artwork’s design elements: “Wurundjeri are the manna gum people. The oil from the leaves have healing properties. The 'healing' smoke is the white smoke that appears when you place young leaves on the embers of a fire. This smoke cleanses you of any bad vibes that you may bring with you. This smoking creates a culturally safe place for everyone while visiting Country.”

The fourteen solar-powered bins, located at varied positions around the MCG and Yarra Park, will help to reduce waste and overflow through smart technology that compacts rubbish, allowing eight times more volume than a standard bin. They also feature a battery-powered sensor that alerts facility management for when they need to be replaced.

The smart features mean there will be fewer garbage trucks on the road, especially when there’s extensive foot traffic through the popular sporting and entertainment precinct.

Stuart Fox, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Cricket Club – manager of the Yarra Park precinct – said that the MCC is proud to showcase Mandy’s designs on the bins, which further highlight First Nations People’s connection to the land of Yarra Park.

“The Yarra Park area is one of great significance. It’s a meeting place, a place of togetherness. Not just now, but dating back tens of thousands of years,” Mr Fox said.

“These newly designed bins will not only celebrate this connection, but also enable us to be smarter and more efficient with our management of waste around the Yarra Park precinct in a further move to respect Wurundjeri Country.”

Mark Collette, Managing Director of EnergyAustralia, said that as Melburnians get back to enjoying all that the MCG offers this summer, we can all admire what’s much more than an average bin.

“Our longstanding partnership with the Melbourne Cricket Club is all about helping the Melbourne icon become more sustainable. The latest example of making their bins smart and solar-powered is a great demonstration of how small actions can have a lasting, positive impact on the environment.

“We’re pleased that Wurundjeri artist, Mandy Nicholson, contributed her unique artwork to each of the bins, which we hope advances the connection we all have to Traditional Owners and custodians of Country.

“At the beginning of 2021, Mandy produced a 10-metre-wide mural at our Melbourne head office, Two Melbourne Quarter, which greets our people as they arrive at work each day – it’s something we look forward to seeing once again with the easing of restrictions,” Mr Collette said.

You can see the newly designed bins around Yarra Park and the MCG concourse.