Three years ago, I relocated to Maroubra and was immediately captivated by its expansive and dramatic horizons.

The landscape here, solitary and isolated, is deeply intertwined with the human psyche. I began to document my surroundings through photography and sketching, recording the textures, sounds and patterns of the place I now call home. This area is sacred to the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples, characterised by sharp sandstone cliffs that have stood for over 300 million years. It is home also to the endangered Eastern banksia scrub, with only 3% remaining today due to human destruction. I was drawn especially to the Wollum and heath-leaved banksia which line the coastline and feature within the paintings. The banksia scrub is preserved in an isolated section of National Park area, saved from development due to its historical significance as a site of defence in WWII. Discarded fortifications which once housed British guns, now sit exposed and decaying, salty wind biting away at the last remaining shelters. A complex place with a dark human history, this land embodies nature’s resilience. Jacky lizards bask in the sun and honeyeaters drink sweet nectar from native flora. This site serves as a constant reminder of life’s transient and fleeting nature, a place that is as harsh as it is beautiful.