Five Shields

Standing proudly at the entrance to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, Five Shields is a powerful public artwork created by Daniel Roberts, Tania Marlowe, and Marcus Ferguson.

This sculpture, located near the roundabout and crafted from corten consists of five shields, each shield supported by a tall spear. The shields represent the five camps of local Nyangbal people - East Ballina, West Ballina, Duck Creek, Boundary Creek/Broadwater and Lennox Head.

These shields stand as a proud acknowledgement to the traditional owners, local Nyangbal people of the Bundjalung Nation celebrating our culture and wishing safe journey to all those that pass here.

The shields reference the important cultural history of the Ballina Shire - local Nyangbal, people, culture and country.

Daniel Roberts is a young Aboriginal artist who works with native Australian timbers to create traditional artefacts such as boomerangs, spears, and shields, each infused with cultural meaning.

Tania Marlowe, a Bundjalung artist and co-founder of Jugan Dandii, is known for her weaving practice that connects community and environment, continuing cultural traditions through contemporary expression.

Marcus Ferguson is a Nyangbal Goorie from Ballina and Cabbage Tree Island whose art celebrates the birds, animals, and cultural stories of the lower Richmond River region, keeping them alive through his vibrant visual storytelling.