Sensing Environments - Evelyn Scully

8 ECHOES

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney's Northern Beaches is the home to 365 different bird species, a total of 40% of all Australia's bird species. Each with a unique song and appearance, this location is a bird lover's dream. This walk is highly diverse, moving through flourishing bush, sweeping sand dunes, rainforests, quiet beaches, rock pools, ocean caves and aromatic gardens; all within a 3km radius.

Visit:https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?project_id=90068&ttl=900&place_id=any&verifiable=any&view=species as it will help you to identify other species of birds and their calls.

Share this walk with friends using the QR code or link provided

Barrenjoey Cave

Waves lap at the soft rock interior of this remarkable coastal cave. The cave stands strong and is frequently explored by cheeky Fur Seal. Overhead resident echolocating microbats click and chirp, fighting each other in their own unique and highly studied language.

If you would like to read more about the study of Bat communication head to this link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-92842-4

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North Palm Beach Headland

As far North as you can travel on the northern Beaches, you are now standing at the heights of spectacular Barrenjoey Headland. Noises of nature surround you. Other than the occasional jet-ski engine, seaplane and muffled voices your peace is rarely disturbed and nor is that of the lorikeet who call the headland home.

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North Palm Beach Sand Dunes

Beneath Barrenjoey Headland a whole new ecosystem thrives. Australian native flora meet and frame the sand dunes. A perfect stadium for Kookaburras to rest and hunt.

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South Palm Beach Rock Pools

The South Palm Beach rock pools are abundant with life. Protected from human traffic a small colony of Little Penguins rest coming to life as the sky reaches its hazy violet palette.

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Rock Bath Road Track

A wall of Norfolk Pines stands tall along the coast. Like nature's sky-scrapers, nesting birds claim penthouse views of the sea. Needy cries of nesting chicks are heard on repeat as you wander through the battlefield of guano.

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Palm Beach Bible Garden

A slice of paradise all to yourself. Cradled between two multimillion dollar mansions, nature is nurtured in this precious and preserved garden. Cockatoos roost like royals in gum trees guarding the premises.

To learn more about the history of the Bible Garden visit: https://palmbeachbiblegarden.org/history/

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Mckay Reserve

This trail is unique and remote, rarely passing another human. A heightened awareness will have your senses itching with curiosity. An orchestra of friendly bellbirds trace the edging bush with their unique song.

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Snapperman Beach

The Pittwater shoreline glistens as waves lap gently. The perfect scene to end a walk. Toasty sand forms the perfect sun bed to recline directing your gaze to the flowering Gum Trees above. The unique chatter of Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo reveals their placement in the trees. A gentle Australian lullaby and the sun sets.

Australia has 5 species of black cockatoo. Sadly the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo are listed as endangered. Visit the following link to learn about them: http://surl.li/sanyt

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Other walks nearby

Tascott hill

Tascott hill

Tascott
This walk is an interactive auditory experience that incorporates the unique abilities of spatial audio systems to allow users to become a part of the music-making process. By laying out musical elements or ‘stems’ around an environment, the user can control how the music sounds, triggering different sounds at different times to create unique sonic experiences for each user and each walk. As the user ascends the hill, musical elements are introduced, allowing the user to control the complexity of the music by moving up and down the environment. The user gets a growing sense of unease and anxiety within the walk as they ascend, the overlapping musical layers clashing and building tension, mirroring the physical nature of a sloping landscape, topped with a calm and serene plateau at the peak of the hill serving as a respite from the unfamiliar alien sounds heard along the walk. The sound of birds at the peak is the only natural sound in the whole piece, reaffirming its role as a representation of familiarity and comfort. By deliberately creating phase interference, unique relationships between sound sources are created, leading to even two walks along the same path creating novel experiences as when specific sounds are triggered affects how the phase of one sound source interacts with others. As the user approaches the bottom of the hill, the first musical layer comes in: a smooth gliding synth with slight distortion and a lilting quality, setting the mood for the walk. All of the sound sources have a slow attack and are generally nonrhythmic, which allows for unique spatial timings of each sound without creating an unpleasant beat misalignment. This is an aspect that differentiates spatial compositions from more traditional ones, where not only is the experience different for everyone in an emotional sense, but also is literally unique because the user has input into the sequence in which the audio is presented. As the user continues up the hills, multiple different synth layers play and begin to overlap, creating a creepy ambient atmosphere. The walk is designed to be completed slowly, taking time to walk back between different sections to create new and interesting combinations of sound sources, listening to them repeat and interact with the others at different timings to create entirely new moods. Once the user has reached the peak of the hill, the walk can also be done backward, juxtaposing the rising tension of walking up the hill with a slow descent, beginning at the epoch of all the sound sources and slowly removing layers until the user is left with only a single, creeping synth at the base of the hill, now mirroring the birds at the crest of the hill, creating a sense of finality and rest from the chaotic sounds of the walk. This walk aims to be a bridge between the physical reality of movement through a space and the sensory reality of sound design and musical composition. The audio of the walk serves as an auditory reconstruction of the physicality of climbing a hill, with the crest and the bottom being more calm and stable, whereas the journey up the hill, specifically the middle has the most physical motion, which the walk auditorally reflects through the increasingly complex musical layers. In addition, the inherent intractability of a spatial audio medium permits a unification of physical movement in space and subjective emotional experience, brought about by auditory experience, such as how the speed of the walk influences the subjective emotional experience; a fast walk up the hill is quick and intense, while a slow walk permits more time between the introduction of new elements, creating a less jarring experience.
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Tom Haveron Assessment 2 - Transmission Park

Tom Haveron Assessment 2 - Transmission Park

Sydney
Located at the end of Warrimoo Avenue, and encircled by Yarralumla Avenue, Transmission Park is a short strip of nature in St. Ives Chase. This park features a long grassy strip that walks from one road to the other, with trees on either side that seperate the neighbouring private properties from the public area. Other then being the parks' namesake, the powerlines in the park create a strong vector down the strip, with a large supporting structure at the front end, which is impossible to ignore. Before electricity had been widespread in Sydney's North, this park contained only trees, and was an extension of the national park that is ~500 meters north of it. After the powerlines were installed, the park became a prime spot to view the sky, resulting in an extremely beautiful view, and one of the widest views of the sky that can be seen (in public) in St. Ives. This echoes walk intends to capture the conceptual strength of manmade and natural elements coalescing to create a densely textured soundscape, much in the same way that the mechanical elements and natural elements create a significant and unique area. This walk began as an attempt to replicate the sonic environment of Transmission Park on a rainy afternoon, however I then decided to implement more experimental sounds, and musical elements, to create a much more conceptual piece. On rainy afternoons, the patter of raindrops creates a steady rhythm, punctuated by distant thunder. The rustle of leaves in the breeze adds a serene backdrop, reminiscent of the park's origins as an extension of the nearby national reserve. However, the park's character is not solely defined by nature, as the presence of powerlines introduces a constant hum, a reminder of the modern infrastructure that intersects with the natural landscape, not unlike a musical pedal point. This blend of sounds creates a unique ambiance, offering visitors a sensory experience that reflects the park's dual identity. In crafting the Echoes Walk for Transmission Park, I sought to capture this multifaceted soundscape. Utilizing field recordings of footsteps, rustling leaves, and the ambient hum of electricity and machinery in both urban and suburban settings, I aimed to create a faithful representation of the park's auditory environment. Yet, I also incorporated experimental elements into the composition. By introducing sounds such as static electricity and passing vehicles, various birdsong and metallic timbres, the manmade aspects of the park truly shine through, occasionally jarring, and occasionally harmonious, which represents the ultimate duality and inconsistency of such a dense soundscape. The decision to implement a guitar accompaniment was fuelled by my intention to amplify the emotions that a place like this may invoke, as it harbours feelings of reflection, nostalgia, and down-to-earthedness. My incorporation of experimental sounds and musical elements in the Echoes Walk captures the essence of Transmission Park in all its diversity. From the gentle rustle of leaves to the sharp crackle of static electricity, the composition reflects the dynamic interplay between humanity and nature, creating a densely textured soundscape that is both evocative and immersive. Despite being a relatively short strip of nature, it is filled with nuance and detail that I have attempted to encapsulate in an audio experience, including the sounds of the outside, including passing cars and domestic sounds, which are important to the sonic environment in the same way that unavoidable plosives and hardware limitations (vinyl crackle, old recording equipment) still plays a role in a final recording of a musical composition. In crafting the Echoes Walk for Transmission Park, my aim was to capture the multifaceted soundscape, intertwining elements of nature and modernity to evoke a unique sensory experience for visitors. The recording process for these sounds required the use of a Zoom H6 recording device, and a shotgun microphone. These sounds were taken from a rainy day in central Sydney, including longer ambience recorded in Hyde Park. When editing these tracks, I aimed to keep the sounds as authentic as possible, avoiding changing things like pitch and unintentional background sounds, so that I could ensure that a sense of naturalism was upheld. I chose this recording location for it's sheer variety of sonic outputs, as well as constant atmospheric background sounds that fit Transmission Park well.
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Audio Cultures: Manly Dam

Audio Cultures: Manly Dam

Sydney
\~Find yourself~ Welcome to Manly Dam, home to the most divine flora and fauna swans. Take a look around and take in the sights and sounds. Perhaps you see a young family having a picnic with the cheekiest of ducks darting in and out trying to grab a snack from one of the laughing children. Or maybe you’ll hear the sounds of birds chirping in the trees, crafting the most harmonious of melodies. Whatever you take in, know it’s the simple joys, so immerse yourself in nature and breathe in… and out… Growing up I’ve always pondered the ideas of the future of humanity, specifically in the realm of the human psyche and our obsession with progress. I’ve had a deep passion for philosophy, which led to often questioning the world and our values. This project further attempts to delve deeper into the psyche of the human mind and begs the question of whether we truly are evolving in the right path… Are we losing our so-called humanity and identity in search of minute pleasure’s? Is the constant demand for society’s approval hindering our originality and desire to be ourselves? These are the questions I ask, as growing up in this modern age creates uniquely significant issues that only Generation Z knows. The pressure to be the best. The desire to be liked. The image you need to portray. All of these ideals are broadcast on a silver screen, and after seeing all these stars shining as bright as the sun, people forget how quickly a fire burns out. Mental health should be focused as a priority in this age, however many youth don’t realise how disconnected from their own minds they truly are. Peaceful but constant mindfulness should help calm their minds. No-one realises how fast they’re truly moving in life until they slow down to reflect. Lying on the grass, lazily watching the sun’s rays reflect off the azure sea like phoenix’s wings, the titters of critters as they forage for food as the scent of petrichor gently wafts through the air… It’s times like this where you find yourself feeling free. Manly Dam is on traditional land of the Indigenous Garigal Clan of the Guringai people. Not only is this reserve a popular spot for picnics and family gathering, but it is also rich with a diverse population of endangered native creatures that have survived on this Earth for thousands of years. This luscious dam deserves to be protected, and knowing this information makes your walk through the wondrous greenery that much more immersive, allowing for contemplation on the beauty of our surroundings. Alan Watt’s speech from ‘The Art of Meditation’ has proved a vital foundational idea for my project, kickstarting my interest in the acts of self-reflection. Specifically all his quotes about the human condition and the concept of ‘overthinking.’ “A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts. So, he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions. By thoughts I mean specifically “chatter in the skull”... perpetual and compulsive repetition of words... of reckoning and calculating.” Alan Watts is truly an inspiration and a figure of wisdom that those should seek out when drawing in their minds. My project is full of ambience and effects recording all throughout the realm of Manly Dam. Utilising the microphone, I attempted to record the noises of the wildlife from duck’s to crows. While in the middle of this action, it hit me how peaceful nature truly is when your mind is focused on your surroundings. My aim for this project is to give the listener the same sense of nonsensical nostalgia that comes out of staying present. My idea of immersion is reinforced by the use of pans and delicate volume control to make the listener feel like they’re living free. And dear listener, there will also be a surprise near the end of the project… This jarring sensation was further brought to light through the use of ProTool’s reverb, delay and stretching tools! I feel like this placed more meaning onto the theme of anxiety. In essence, my goal of this project was to draw awareness to the inner self and how much potential you can discover when you discipline your mind. Calm yourself and orientate yourself in the present. I promise you’ll come away from my walk with a faint smile and a deeper outlook on nature and humanity. Remember you don’t need to prove yourself, you’re good enough as you are. Now go! Tell someone close to you how much they mean to you. Their smile will be worth it all. By Nicholas Pang Berto, R. (2005). Exposure to restorative environments helps restore attentional capacity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25(3), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2005.07.001 ‌How Modern Life Became Disconnected from Nature. (2017). Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how\_modern\_life\_became\_disconnected\_from\_nature Hultgren, J. (2015, May 31). MindFullyAlive. MindFullyAlive. http://www.mindfullyalive.com/blog/2015/5/30/alan-watts-on-the-art-of-meditation#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20person%20who%20thinks%20all,..%20of%20reckoning%20and%20calculating. ‌onsareblog. (2016, November 17). THE IRONY OF LIFE: YOU NEVER KNOW THE VALUE OF A PERSON UNTIL THEY’RE GONE! Onsareblog; onsareblog. https://onsareblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/17/the-irony-of-life-you-never-know-the-value-of-someone-until-theyre-gone/
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The Growing Threat of Urbanisation

The Growing Threat of Urbanisation

Sydney
I was inspired to create this piece by observing the changing sounds on my travels into the city for university. As I travel closer and closer, the sounds begin to change. The atmosphere is different. It’s not instant. And it's not noticeable to the average person. Sydney’s City is 236 years old. 171 years older than my town. So instead of looking at my regular commute into the city as travelling through space. Instead, I viewed it as travelling through time. Using this commute to view how sound transforms in this way opened my eyes to this growing threat of urban development. I hope to portray this to you in this short walk and to show you how threatening the speed of this normalised urban development is. And it's something that most don't understand until they drive past their childhood home and see it replaced with an 8-story high rise. Is my town only 50 years away from no longer hearing the birds? The times of hearing the waterfalls are already long gone. Could your town be 20 years away from no longer hearing the trees in the breeze? Some of us have such a love for the city’s soundscape that we forget that it comes at a cost. And with the rate of this metropolitan expansion, in 171 years will my town be just as dull of natural life as Sydney city? How far off is your town? The Growing Threat of Urbanisation This town started just like yours. A haven of lush greenery and blooming of natural life. This place where the trees confidently stood tall and strong, their branches heavy in foliage dancing in nature's breeze. The birds sang from dawn until dusk and the crickets from dusk until dawn. The rush of the flowing streams and waterfalls served as a soothing backdrop to everyday life. These sounds that once defined this slice of land are now, a piece of history and a mere memory, of a former era. As you walk through town today, you might only catch the distant calls of the birds and the gentle rustle of the branches of a lone tree. Remnants of what once was, and faint memories holding onto the landscape consuming its new identity. The rivers are dry. And trains now rush through the ‘valleys’ of the train station. The breeze doesn't flow through the leaves on the trees instead now the concrete canyons, accompanying the constant hum of traffic. The first signs of what was to come were subtle. The occasional wind chime tinkling with the natural environment was harmonious at first. But now it is a bittersweet reflection… the beginning of the end of something beautiful. This is when the sense of unease began. The first sign of change, and a hint that this town's harmony with nature was beginning to shift. Most call it the way of life, but I know it as the genocide happening under our noses. When the construction begins, the swaying trees disappear with it. You can hear the cries of the earth being churned up by heavy machinery, where lush meadow once stood in peace. What used to be quiet sheep trails are now rivers of asphalt carrying motor vehicles from place to place. The wind chimes that once seemed so charming now feel like a prelude to the racket now gradually taking over the town. Buildings line up along the street, casting shadows that give the soil no chance of living its dream again. The greenery has been pushed to its fringes, small parks and carefully manicured lawns are a mockery of what the soil once resembled. You can't hear the birds chirping over the humans blabbering, and you can't hear their singing over the blaring car horns and diesel engines. The harmony between man and nature has been lost and replaced with a battle for land. The wind chimes that were once a gorgeous addition to the soundscape, are now known as a sign of war. The war that this slice of land lost. As you reach the end of your walk, you can't help but wonder what the future holds for this town. Will it continue to expand, its concrete jungle growing ever larger? Or is there a chance to reclaim some of the natural beauty that has been lost? The soundscape you've just experienced is a journey through time, a reminder that the choices we make today will shape the world of tomorrow. It's up to us to decide whether we want to preserve the echoes of nature or let them fade away entirely.
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Hornsby Heritage Walk

Hornsby Heritage Walk

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
This is an audio guided historic walking tour of the business and retail precinct of Hornsby, and it highlights the rich social and cultural past within Hornsby Shire. It is an easy grade walk which takes approximately 90 minutes to complete or can be split into two shorter walks (e.g. the east and the west side of the railway station). We hope you enjoy experiencing Hornsby’s buildings, parks and monuments of significance and learning about some of the stories behind them. All images are from Hornsby Shire Recollects: https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/pages/contact The sound clip of the Hornsby Water Sculpture at stop four belongs to Youtube user eatenbywords: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7XRcJz9Mn0
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The Road of Northbridge - Sailors Bay

The Road of Northbridge - Sailors Bay

Sydney
Welcome to The Road of Northbridge – Sailors Bay Road. This road is host to many of the great aspects that make up the amazing suburb of Northbridge in the Lower area of Sydney’s North Shore. Take the time to walk from the waterside park of Clive Park to the busy shopping district at the corner of Sailors Bay and Strathallan. In this walk you will pass Northbridge’s captivating blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and community charm. From the enchanting Northbridge Golf Course to the musical richness in the G major guitar studio. Embrace this audible euphoria and connect with the charming suburb of Northbridge. This walk is a representation of local community in this wonderful suburb. This walk takes you inside the cultural hub of Northbridge by showing you the appealing aspects of its splendid natural beauty and cultural richness through the flourishing array of sport, music, community centres and social areas. The walk starts you in Clive Park, the heart of the suburb’s natural beauty with its beach front view of the famous Sydney Harbour and its vast assortment of Australian bush. From Clive Park you will walk past the famous Northbridge golf course. Situated amongst the splendour of Northbridge, The Northbridge Golf Course stands testament to the harmony between nature and sport. This course is home to novices and enthusiasts of the game with an embodiment of panoramic vistas and unwavering commitment to excellence, attesting to the suburbs fostering community spirit and its commitment to sustainability. Next to the illustrious golf course is the Northbridge oval, a synthetic ground hosting leisurely activities as well as many football and cricket matches. Another indication of sustainability in the community, this oval is one of Northbridge’s cultural centres by playing host to teams from all around the city in football and cricket matches as well as training sessions. The multipurpose sporting field is a mantel piece and staple of the many things that create the amazing suburb of Northbridge. Across the road from the Northbridge oval is the G major guitar studio, created by Jimmy Chan in 2012. G major is the hub of musical culture in Northbridge by teaching over 100 students a year and having taught over a thousand students since its opening. From teaching students to putting on concerts, The G major guitar studio is the haven for musical culture and audible euphoria in Northbridge. The studio brings the whole community together and is a staple for cultural richness in the suburb. Up the road from the guitar studio is the shopping district of Northbridge, flourished with café’s, newsagencies, and restaurants. This area is the centre of cultural and social charm in the suburb and is enriched with vibrant tapestry. Northbridge offers an immersive shopping experience that caters to all. This project reflects all the cultural and natural beauty in this wonderful suburb of Northbridge. This walk encapsulates the captivating experience of life in Northbridge, taking you through a vibrant array of sports, music, nature, and shopping. The walk explores the tempestuity of the audible culture in the suburb from beautiful sounds of nature to the loud social environment of the shopping region. In this walk you should take the time to explore each region in which you hear the associated sounds so you can explore more than what you’re hearing and visually explore the amazing suburb of Northbridge. The sounds you are hearing in this walk have been recorded in a variety of places with a variety of lengths. All sounds were recorded from either my mobile phone or my AudioTechnica At2020 condenser microphone. I have mostly used atmospheric sounds to encapsulate the authentic experience of someone walking through this vibrant neighbourhood which makes the walk less fabricated and more acoustically designed. Sounds such as footsteps on gravel has been used to display the change of location and indicates the natural sounds of Northbridge. I’ve also incorporated a decay mod synth to create a sense of euphoria in the walk to elucidate the hauntingly beautiful aspects of this great suburb. This walk truly does encapsulate all the great aspects of Northbridge. On this walk listen out for the natural beauty, cultural richness, and community charm that this great suburb has to offer. Please enjoy your walk down Sailor’s Bay Road – THE Road of Northbridge. Credits Written and composed by: Billy Fennessy Additional Audio Components: Ben Tippett, Ollie Hilliard
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Chatswood station

Chatswood station

Sydney
Sounds around Chatswood train station in Sydney, Australia
free
The Ankle Walk

The Ankle Walk

Sydney
A walk exploring the stories of water through the perspective of the ankle When you put all your attention to the ankle scale, stories of water are reavealed in their most direct nature. Erosion becomes more apparent, infrastructure systems are easier to distinguish and the failure of planning and designs becomes very apparent. these can all help the walker to experience a walk that offers more in terms of both enjoyment and education.
free
Chatswood

Chatswood

Sydney
The aim of this Echoes project is to bring the user on a “tour” style walk around the popular areas of Chatswood. While walking around, the user will encounter the beginnings of Chatswood, the big Westfield shopping center and will depart via the Train Station. The narration of the tour should feel more like a friend over a tour guide as they will guide you around the place and see you off. This tour should allow the user to immerse themselves in the area while also learning about the history of the area. IMAGE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatswood,\_New\_South\_Wales
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