For the convicts and authorities posted to Coal River, the natural environment presented both an abundant resource and an intimidating landscape yet to be understood. These two works use native and exotic flora to acknowledge the duality of this relationship.

Convict mandala uses negative space to symbolise parts of the surrounding natural environment that were removed during Newcastle’s convict era. The shape of the landscape was radically altered during this period. The construction of Nobby’s breakwater, rid the island of almost half its height and took approximately 38 years to complete. Other convict labour interventions to the Newcastle landscape include the excavation of the bogey hole, coal mining, lime burning, cedar cutting, and European farming practices. Tool motifs represent each of these interventions and are outlined with a fragrant dust made of local Eucalyptus leaves. Their placement radiates from a centre of ground English oak leaves, as actions that ripple from a distant motherland.