JAMIE EASTWOOD (Dharug)

Project Name: Frontier Warriors

Location: M7, M12 Interchange, Sydney

Commissioner: North Western Roads Group

Materials: Forged Metal, Fibreglass, Axolotl Bronze, Graphite, Paint

Dimensions: Warriors x 3 @ 4 metres in height
Shields x 38 @ 3 metres in height
Spears x 80 @ 4.5 metres in height

Located on the median near the Bernera Road exit, Frontier Warriors honours the spirit of the warrior — a custodian who stood firm on Country, protecting land and kin as part of their Law responsibility. The work reflects both the pre-colonial landscape and ecology of Western Sydney, and a complex and conflicted Australian past at the point of colonisation.

The installation comprises a field of metallic shields and spears anchored by three warrior figures, each standing approximately four metres tall. Across the work, reflective markings reference ceremonial body paint, activating the installation at night as it catches passing headlights. The warriors, shields and spears collectively speak to themes of battle, resilience and strength, while also expressing enduring belonging and custodianship, honouring those who defended their Country with courage and commitment.

Frontier Warriors was co-created by Dharug artist Jamie Eastwood and Balarinji Studio as part of the broader M7 Public Art Collection, developed through a Designing with Country framework in collaboration with Aboriginal knowledge holders and artists .

Axolotl worked closely with Balarinji and Jamie Eastwood to realise the project, translating the artistic vision into a series of durable, large-scale sculptural elements. Drawing on a combination of forged metal, fibreglass and Axolotl’s own applied surfaces, including bronze and graphite, the work incorporates a wide range of materials and processes to achieve both visual depth and long-term performance within a demanding roadside environment.

Through the use of hand-applied metal surfaces, patination and surface refinement, Axolotl was able to introduce variation, tactility and a sense of material authenticity across each element. The reflective detailing, critical to the work’s presence at night, was carefully resolved to balance durability with visual impact.

This project represents a meaningful collaboration between artist, cultural agency and fabricator. Axolotl is proud to have contributed to the delivery of such a significant public artwork and to see it come to fruition at this scale, embedded within the landscape and experienced by thousands of people each day.