This resource supports the People, patterns and processes - Study 3: Place and cultural change topic for the Geography Year 11 course Geography 11–12 Syllabus (2022).
Activities within this resource have been developed to introduce students to the suburb of Marrickville and its cultural characteristics and influences before participating in an excursion to conduct fieldwork for the topic 'People patterns and processes - Study 3: Place and cultural change'.
Post-fieldwork activities have also been included to support the processing, analysis and presentation of primary data collected during fieldwork.
Geographic tools including photographs and links to external sources can also be used in post excursion activities and assessment.
Students:
GE-11-01 examines places, environments and natural and human phenomena, for their characteristics, spatial patterns, interactions and change over time
GE-11-02 explains geographical processes and influences at a range of scales that form and transform places and environments
GE-11-06 identifies geographical methods used in geographical inquiry and their relevance in the contemporary world
GE-11-07 applies geographical inquiry skills and tools, including spatial technologies, fieldwork, and ethical practices, to investigate places and environments
Located approximately 7 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, Marrickville is the largest suburb in the Inner West Council local government area. The suburb sits on the northern bank of the Cooks River and is part of the Cook River basin. The town centre includes the areas alongside Marrickville Road and Illawarra Road and consists of a pedestrian oriented retail-precinct.
Following European colonisation, the suburb of Marrickville was first established as an agricultural and industrial area. Today, Marrickville is a vibrant and dynamic suburb consisting of low and high density residential, commercial and light industrial areas with significant Greek and Vietnamese communities and a thriving music and arts scene.
With various phases of change embedded in its cultural landscape and further development planned, Marrickville provides a local case study for students to engage in fieldwork to investigate culture of place, and the influences, mediums, and perceptions of cultural change.
You will be conducting our fieldwork on Cadigal and Wangal Country.
The Cadigal and Wangal Peoples of the Dharug Nation are the traditional custodians of Marrickville.
Marrickville lies within a historic swamp called Gumbramorra. For the Aboriginal clans that lived here, Marrickville was called Bulanaming. The Goolay'yari (Cooks River) and its estuaries were a rich source of food for Aboriginal clans living in this region.
Read more about Aboriginal history in Marrickville here.
During your fieldwork investigation, you will acquire primary data to answer the following questions:
What are the cultural characteristics of Marrickville?
How has the movement of people (migration) influenced the culture of Marrickville?
How has human wellbeing been enhanced in Marrickville?
What are the perceptions of and responses to cultural continuity and change in Marrickville?
What fieldwork methods can be used to investigate the cultural landscape of a place?
Open the Google doc in a new tab to view the student workbook for this website. Create a new copy of the document for editing access.
Further teacher instructions on how to use the student workbook can be viewed on the Google doc.
This resource was developed by the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre.
Centre staff are qualified teachers who specialise in environmental and outdoor education, fieldwork and sustainability.