Indigenous Digging Sticks for Ground-Breaking Ceremonies

A long standing tradition for the construction industry is the ground breaking ceremony which marks the commencement of construction on new projects. We have recently replaced the traditional golden shovels used in these events for indigenous digging sticks in recognition of the traditional landowners.

Following the ground-breaking, we gift a digging stick to our client to display in their HQ. We also keep a digging stick in our site office for the duration of the project as an enduring reminder of the lands on which our team are working.

“Taking part in the ground-breaking ceremony was an honour, using digging sticks sourced from the local Larrakia community, instead of conventional shovels. This not only honoured their heritage but also honed in on the fact that it wasn’t just about breaking ground, it was about breaking down barriers and showing respect for our local community here in the Northern Territory. It is a moment in my career I will honestly cherish.” Lara Kaehne, Senior Project Coordinator.

Swipe through to see the Indigenous Digging Sticks at our recent Ground-Breaking Ceremonies.

Images 1 & 2: digging sticks commissioned from Alex Kerr of Liwik yiyah consulting, Wurundjeri man, on behalf of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations
Images 3 & 4: digging sticks commissioned from the Larrakia People, the traditional owners of the Darwin region