Table 2 Historic preservation, reclamation and conservation efforts to acknowledge Indigenous and European heritage

Purpose

•Cultural expression;

•Profound connection with land, fauna and flora, abiotic elements of landscape;

•Stewardship of indigenous culture and environmental and spiritual knowledge;

•Places for gatherings, cultural and spiritual events, and healing;

•Providing educational space for students, children and adults;

•Providing space for memorials and acknowledgments and recognitions;

•Promoting native flora to expand use in private gardens;

•Natural environment conservation efforts;

•Educating about native plants, planning, display arrangements to encourage the transformation of landscaping and gardening practices;

•Regeneration of urban wasteland;

•Providing a recreational and educational green space in the urbanised environment;

•Providing educational space for students – engaging in maintenance, creating a bush-tucker garden;

•Providing space for memorials and acknowledgments and recognitions;

Design

•Designs are based on Aboriginal Dreaming and Aboriginal Six Seasons. They often include a motif of a journey;

•Fauna, flora, and abiotic elements of landscape (rocks, soil, land formations, water) are all significant parts of a garden;

•Inclusion of cultural artefacts (sculptures, paintings, weapons);

•Symbolic representations of local indigenous history, culture, values and beliefs;

•The biological changes occurring in plants and animals during Noongar Six Seasons inform the garden visitors about important events and milestones;

•Planting arrangements are experimental;

•Designs are based on Western classical garden display techniques and practices ( elements such as garden beds, layered planning arrangements, winding footpaths, pergolas, benches, picturesque views);

•Less emphasis on abiotic landscape elements;

•Strong emphasis on creating a waterwise garden;

Flora, fauna and abiotic elements

•Plants and animals and abiotic landscape elements bear cultural and spiritual significance in an indigenous garden;

•Use of plants and planting arrangements are based on Indigenous environmental, cultural and spiritual knowledge;

•The plant species are chosen for their medical and nourishing qualities, practical use, cultural and spiritual meaning and values;

•Plants are selected for their aesthetics and ecological qualities;

•Plants arrangements to create a waterwise garden that is easy to maintain;