Empire Stakes
Text Version
Empire Stakes is a sculpture by Aboriginal artist, Judy Watson. The series of stakes represent the original ironbark posts that were placed one square mile from Brisbane’s settlement in 1852.
The original posts delineated the town limits and were installed to exclude people seen as disorderly or undesirable from entering the town at night. Indigenous people were included in the list of undesirables.
By placing the stakes together, Watson has made a statement about the notion of exclusion. She asks that the place on which we stand provides justice and respect for all.
