Image: St Lucy's & Nathan Peckham 2025 artwork
Cushman & Wakefield is proud to continue its partnership with Taronga, reaffirming its commitment as an Access and Inclusion Partner. This collaboration underscores a shared mission to create inclusive experiences that allow people of all abilities to connect with nature and wildlife at Taronga.
Building on the success of the past three years, including initiatives such as Wild Lights and community engagement programs, Cushman & Wakefield remains jointly dedicated to enhancing accessibility for all Taronga guests. Through this partnership, both organisations will continue to provide tailored experiences, including accessibility guides, visual stories, and educational signage, ensuring every visitor has a meaningful and enriching experience.
In the next step of this commitment, Cushman & Wakefield is excited to unveil a collaborative art project at its upcoming Community Day at the zoo on Thursday 3 April.
This initiative features a large-scale digital artwork by acclaimed Wiradjuri artist, Nathan Peckham, created in partnership with the artwork of students from St Lucy’s School, a school dedicated to children with disabilities. The mural is a testament to the power of artistic expression in fostering inclusivity, cultural connection, and environmental awareness.
Reflecting on this collaboration, Nathan Peckham shared his thoughts on the significance of working with the students of St Lucy’s School and Cushman & Wakefield:
“Working with the talented young artists from St Lucy’s School has been inspiring - it’s been an opportunity to create something truly meaningful together, blending their unique perspectives with my own to tell a shared story of connection, place, and belonging. Partnering with Cushman & Wakefield has also been an incredibly fulfilling experience, as their dedication to inclusion and accessibility aligns perfectly with my artistic vision of uniting people through storytelling and nature.”
When discussing the artwork, which is called “Ngumbaay Ngurambang” which is Wiradjuri for “One Home”, Nathan said "I wanted to create a scene where each animal has its own identity, as they come from different environments—salt water for the turtle and ponds for the platypus. The circular patterns represent their individual homes, while the entire artwork emphasises that they all share a larger home.
“I integrated the pieces created by the children, including hand stencils and designs within the animals’ tracks around their habitats. From a storytelling perspective, the hands symbolise our connection to these animals and our responsibility for their future.”
“We are responsible for keeping them safe. This artwork serves as a reminder that our fingerprints are imprinted on the entire environment, regardless of an animal's specific habitat.
“The line work created by the children represents time—a journey that encourages mindfulness of both past actions and future consequences. At heart, we are environmentalists. We are not separate from nature but a part of it, now and into the future," he said.
Noral Wild, CEO ANZ of Cushman & Wakefield, highlighted the importance of championing accessibility and inclusion: "At Cushman & Wakefield, we believe in creating spaces where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered. Our partnership with Taronga reflects this commitment by ensuring that all visitors, regardless of ability, can experience the wonder of wildlife in a meaningful way.
“The collaboration with Nathan Peckham and St Lucy’s School is a powerful example of how art can bridge communities, spark conversations, and inspire greater inclusivity. We are incredibly proud to support this initiative and continue making a positive impact.”
Cameron Kerr AO, CEO of Taronga Conservation Society Australia, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: “Taronga is for everyone, and this means ensuring that we continue to create inclusive and accessible experiences where all visitors can connect and marvel at the wonder of wildlife.
“Our partnership with Cushman & Wakefield and Nathan Peckham is grounded in a shared vision of making meaningful connections through art, education, and conservation. This initiative not only enriches the experience for our guests but also highlights the powerful role creativity plays in fostering a deeper connection to nature and community.”
This unveiling during Cushman & Wakefield’s Community Day at Taronga will highlight the firm’s ongoing commitment to diversity, accessibility, and engagement across the communities it serves. With a continued focus on inclusivity, the company remains dedicated to ensuring all individuals, regardless of ability, have the opportunity to engage meaningfully with art, nature, and cultural storytelling.
Through initiatives like this, Cushman & Wakefield and Taronga continue to lead the way in creating spaces that celebrate diversity and connection.
