![On the northern boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House precinct, First Nations artist Megan Cope has made an installation with oyster shells clinging to 200 timber poles. She used around 85,000 oyster shells to make the three large-scale works. Picture by Daniel Boud On the northern boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House precinct, First Nations artist Megan Cope has made an installation with oyster shells clinging to 200 timber poles. She used around 85,000 oyster shells to make the three large-scale works. Picture by Daniel Boud](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/f0db1645-8670-40fa-bf26-bd57c9b69dc2.jpg/r0_144_3238_2072_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Oyster shells diverted from landfill at Narooma Oyster Festival mesmerised Sydneysiders and visitors alike at the Sydney Opera House' 50th anniversary.
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First Nations artist Megan Cope used around 85,000 oyster shells to create three large-scale public works in the opera house precinct on Bennelong Point.
There is a decorative windbreak under the Opera House's exterior staircase, a contemporary midden in front of Bennelong restaurant and oyster shells clinging to 200 timber poles on the northern boardwalk.
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![The contemporary midden that artist Megan Cope formed for the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House using oyster shells. Due to its resounding interest with Sydneysiders and visitors, the Sydney Opera House has extended the artwork until November 26, coinciding with Australia's largest on-site and only national dance competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. It is held on the Opera House forecourt. Picture by Daniel Boud The contemporary midden that artist Megan Cope formed for the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House using oyster shells. Due to its resounding interest with Sydneysiders and visitors, the Sydney Opera House has extended the artwork until November 26, coinciding with Australia's largest on-site and only national dance competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. It is held on the Opera House forecourt. Picture by Daniel Boud](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/450ae571-613a-490f-8c0e-9be633f72cca.jpg/r0_0_3238_2130_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Cath Peachey, chair of Narooma Rocks, the organisation behind the oyster festival, said Ms Cope's work tends to explore the relationship between environment, geography and culture.
The work at the Opera House is about the recent and ancient history of Bennelong Point.
![First Nations artist Megan Cope has created a windbreak below the exterior staircase of the Sydney Opera House to mark its 50th anniversary. The artwork evokes the ancestral midden sites that were used there for Aboriginal celebrations and gatherings for thousands of years. Picture by Daniel Boud First Nations artist Megan Cope has created a windbreak below the exterior staircase of the Sydney Opera House to mark its 50th anniversary. The artwork evokes the ancestral midden sites that were used there for Aboriginal celebrations and gatherings for thousands of years. Picture by Daniel Boud](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/83efbb77-df1e-41e4-9b80-8094ffd0399d.jpg/r0_555_2160_3133_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The rare rock oyster
"Through the art installation Megan is raising the profile of the rock oyster which is what we are about and also its significance as a food source for her people," Ms Peachey said.
While in Ireland to accompany Gerard 'Doody' Dennis to the World Oyster Opening Championships in Galway and to pitch Narooma as host of the Oyster World Cup, Ms Peachey discovered how rare rock oysters are, accounting for just one percent of global production.
While most of the world's oysters grow in nine to 12 months, rock oysters take five years to reach our tables.
"Over that time they are handled with care by farmers so what Megan is doing is adding to our collective enjoyment by caring for them in their next life," she said.
![Eurobodalla Shire Council is working with OzFish on ways to use the discarded oyster shells at Narooma Oyster Festival 2023. The council initiative to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill collected 800 kilograms of oyster shells. Council funded the majority of the zero waste operations including the bins and signage. Picture supplied. Eurobodalla Shire Council is working with OzFish on ways to use the discarded oyster shells at Narooma Oyster Festival 2023. The council initiative to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill collected 800 kilograms of oyster shells. Council funded the majority of the zero waste operations including the bins and signage. Picture supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/dd57d714-c411-4664-a835-b1ce4be56059.jpeg/r0_0_662_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Rock oysters are also unique in that all the oysters Ms Peachey sampled overseas were grown in the sea, making them salty.
"Ours are so complex because we are growing them in estuaries as well," she said.
Oysters are improving the planet's water quality
"Even in New York they have oyster reefs to improve the marine habitat," Ms Peachey said.
She said oyster shells can be composted and farmers crush them and use them on driveways.
"The installation will educate people about the rare and special thing we have," she said.
![Narooma Oyster Festival oyster shells feature at Sydney Opera House 50th anniversary. Narooma Oyster Festival will be held May 3-4, 2024, with tickets on sale February. Picture supplied Narooma Oyster Festival oyster shells feature at Sydney Opera House 50th anniversary. Narooma Oyster Festival will be held May 3-4, 2024, with tickets on sale February. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/180157781/ab8c3293-74aa-4849-ba09-164b324b4f29.jpeg/r0_60_640_420_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Council initiative
Eurobodalla Shire Council sustainability education officer Alex King approached the festival organisers about diverting as much waste as possible from landfill.
Over the course of the festival 20 Zero Hero volunteers, including two council staff members, monitored bins and directed people to put their oyster shells in specially designated bins.
Ms King said small things trigger really big questions for people.
"They see something transformed into something beautiful.
"The big impact of that is the ongoing thoughts and behaviour changes," Ms King said.
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