Exploring ‘By the River’: A Public Art Installation in Camden

Danielle Mate’s ‘By the River’

Discover a wonderful and colourful art installation on the stairs linking Chellaston Reserve and the Little Sandy footbridge, highlighting a local motif. The artwork is Danielle Mate’s “By the River,” depicting a platypus on the Nepean River.

Public art often involves community consultation and public funding, acting as a democratic tool that can both honour history and challenge current perspectives. (APA 2025) Mate’s art installation fulfils those requirements.

By the River is a mural in a location with a rich history of natural and cultural heritage, both Indigenous and European. Danielle Mate says that her public art installations

  are extensive, compelling, and truly beautiful. Many of these works are custom commissions and all of them share a story and are a celebration of culture. (Mate 2026)

Mate’s citation for her artwork By the River on her website states

Little Sandy Bridge – Camden Artwork. Multiple artworks created for commission by Camden Council. Original artworks printed onto metal plates and adhered to step faces at Little Sandy Bridge in Camden NSW. A great attraction at the bike track and many community members giving great feedback on the splash of colour they enjoy on their walks. (Mate 2026)

Launch of Danielle Mate’s By The River art installation

According to a 2015 Camden Council media release, Danielle Mate’s ‘By the River’ was commissioned by the council as a community art project. The ‘striking artwork’ was a collaboration between Aboriginal artist Danielle and the local Aboriginal community, the Mygunyah Camden Aboriginal Residents Group, on ideas of place and connection, developed during art workshops.

Danielle’s artwork was

 Inspired by the colours and design of the natural environment, the artwork celebrates flora and fauna of this popular site and pays tribute to Camden Council’s mascot, the Platypus.

‘I am delighted with the results and said it is a credit to all involved’, said Camden Mayor Counsellor Lara  Symkowiak.

 ‘The results of the community art project are fantastic, and I congratulate Danielle and the members of the community involved in the project.’

‘I think the artwork is a great addition to such a special and historic place in Camden’, she said.

‘Little Sandy Bridge is a place where residents and visitors can enjoy and appreciate our natural environment. To make the experience even better, they can now enjoy a beautiful artwork created by the community.’ Cr Symkowiak highlighted. (Camden Council 2015)

The art project was part of a broader initiative to revitalise the area for pedestrians and residents using the popular bridge link, after the footbridge sustained flood damage during the 2007 and 2013 flood events, according to Mayor Symkowiak. (Camden Council 2015)

Journalist Tarik Elmerhebe reported in the Macarthur Chronicle that artist Danielle Mate, who now lives in Prestons, said her connection with Camden made the project special.

“It was really exciting for me because I grew up in Camden,” she said.

“To think my three children will have somewhere to go in Camden and enjoy my artwork is great.”  (Elmerhebe 2015)

Danielle Mate, the artist

Danielle Mate’s website states that she

 is a Sydney based artist working internationally for brands, corporations, cultural events and government agencies in the creation of  contemporary art pieces and designs, large-scale mural designs and public art installations. (Mate 2026)

She was born in Sydney and studied visual arts and design at the University of Wollongong. She says that her early years were spent discovering her own Indigenous culture. She is an internationally recognised artist and has works in galleries and private collections across the globe. (Art Atrium 2026)

 Danielle says she has a strong presence with her Indigenous heritage and says

A descendant of the Murrawari people through her Mother’s maternal side, and Euahlayi people through her Mother’s paternal grandmother, Danielle has created a name for herself within the art world.  Danielle works collaboratively with a number of organisations promoting indigenous education and art. (Mate 2026)

Conclusion

Danielle Mate’s art installation, By the River, adds colour and movement to Little Sandy, a place of rich cultural heritage, both Indigenous and European. There are many stories about it.

The platypus motif in Mate’s mural is emblematic of the Cowpastures and its ecology, which predates the European settler society and was part of Indigenous culture.

The art installation, like all public art, is full of meaning and site-specific, intended to enhance the location. According to Penny Back, public art is part of our public history, our evolving culture, and our collective memory, which is the collection of many personal memories. (APA 2025)

There are many questions you might pose. What does public art mean to you? Do you like the platypus in the artwork? What story will you tell about the platypus? Do you have stories to tell about Little Sandy?

References

APA 2025. What is public art? – Association for Public Art. [online] Association for Public Art. Available at: https://www.associationforpublicart.org/what-is-public-art/#: [Accessed 14 Apr. 2026]. Adapted from Public Art in Philadelphia by Penny Balkin Bach (Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1992).

Art Atrium 2026. Danielle Mate Sullivan. https://artatrium.com.au/danielle-mate-sullivan Accessed 6 April 2026

Camden Council 2015.  A Community Art Project For Little Sandy Bridge. Media Release, Camden Council, Camden, 7 May. Online at https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/assets/pdfs/Media-and-News-Desk/media-releases/2015/Media-Releases/Little-Sandy-Bridge-Artwork.pdf  Accessed 14 April 2026.

Elmerhebe, Tarik  2015. Little Sandy Bridge, Elderslie, gets a revamp. Macarthur Chronicle 17 May. Online at https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/little-sandy-bridge-elderslie-gets-a-revamp/news-story/f28b0f97422c758de52687cee88a12c0# Accessed 14 April 2026

 Mate, Danielle 2026. Danielle Mate, Contemporary Australian, Follow the Journey. https://www.daniellemate.com.au/ Accessed 6 April 2026