Public Art in our Region
Public Art around our region
With so many beautiful spots and outlooks, and so many clever creative people who love our nature and our history, there's no shortage of fantastic public art installations to go and check out!
There are over 40 public artworks situated at great picnic sites, beaches and popular walking paths that you can incorporate into your ArtWalk experience. Look out for the historic ‘Folly’ at Windmill Hill in Port, ‘Spindrift’ overlooking Rainbow Beach in Bonny Hills and the humorous Camden Haven Flood Markers. Discover the King and Queen sculptural timber chairs and other pieces commissioned as a tribute to local Harry Thompson, overlooking stunning Shelly Beach. Cowarra Dam is a great spot to enjoy a peaceful picnic whilst taking in the seven Aboriginal Birpai totems and local artist Peter Allison’s steel sculpture ‘The Drip’. What is not to love? Read on, and start planning your itinerary....
Paradise Found
By Amanda Newman assisted by Brad Collins 2023 | Bonny Hills Reservoir Reserve, Skyline Place Bonny Hills
Titled ‘Paradise Found’ the mural’s design was inspired by nearby floral species and local birdlife; who are regular visitors to the water reservoir site. Melbourne based artist Amanda Newman designed the beautiful artwork to both celebrate the surrounding natural environment and allow the design to be spotted on the drive in to Bonny Hills. Amanda’s beautifully soft but striking and dramatic artwork is all hand painted using a variety of brushes, which is quite unusual for an installation of this size.
The mural is included on the Australian Silo Art Trail Map
Flynns Beach Mural
By Mulga 2022 | Flynns Beach
Mulga, aka Joel Moore, is an Australian street artist known for his unique creations and signature style, his work graces walls and objects around the world! He lead a group of local artists, who participated in a mural program to complete this vibrant and fun mural.
Decomporsi
By Roberto Giordani, 2018
The sculpture was created during a masterclass at Eveleigh Works metal studio, led by internationally renowned artist, teacher and designer Roberto Giordani. A number of blacksmith artists from the Port Macquarie-Hastings region forged elements included in the sculpture. Decomporsi was inspired by Giordani’s love of the ocean and his appreciation of its delicate ecosystem, while alluding to his frustration towards the pollution of our seas, and the culling of our sea life. Generously donated by Eveleigh Works
“Decomporsi shows the majesty and elegance of the shark, yet its body is decaying, sloughing, suffering and falling apart and dying. Will we take any notice and act/react? Only time will tell.”
Guir Wakul Gagil
Mrs Yorks Garden Reserve, Port Macquarie
The Together as One sculpture is a public contemporary art piece which is an interpretation of a significant historic event. On December 9, 1827 seven Aboriginal men rescued the crew of a small European pilot boat after a huge wave over turned it on the bar. This could be the first ever lifesaving incident recorded in the country.
Mayor of Shelly Beach Totem
By Stephen Killick and Stephen King , 2005 | Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie
Down at the beach Stephen Killick and Stephen King have recreated Harry’s caravan as a picnic table and totem reflecting his unofficial title of mayor of Shelly Beach. In addition local artist, Sue Bell, ran community workshops for people to create tiles of their memories of Harry. The subsequent Spiral Path tells a playful and narrative story of Harry Thompson.
Harry's Spiral Path
By Sue Bell 2005 | Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie
Locals made ceramic tiles telling stories of the late Harry Thomspon, artist and caretaker who made Shelley beach his home from 1960 until his passing.
Folly
By Rick Reynolds 2005 | Windmill Hill Reserve, Port Macquarie
The name of the sculpture at Windmill Hill - Folly (a Grecian garden feature) is a play on the original name of the area, being Gillman's Folly. The artwork represents the wooden shaft and stone grinding wheels of the windmill which once stood on the site.
Camden Haven Flood Markers
By Rick Reynolds 2006 | Whiting - Ostler Park | Shark - Bruce Porter Reserve | Flathead - Dunbogan Reserve
These three sculptures by Rick Reynolds enhance the Camden Haven landscape while at the same time raising awareness in a humorous way, of the impacts of flooding in the area. The design includes fish sculptures of local flathead, whiting and shark which are not only symbolic of the sea change lifestyle of the area but to indicate the connection of what happens when water enter homes in times of flooding with flathead “coming through the door” and shark “coming through the window”.
Orientating Oneself
Device for Orientating Oneself Within the Universe
By Stephen Killick 2001 | Gordon Street, outside of Port Macquarie Library
This sculpture was created by Stephen Killick in 2001. The images of the sphere represent the past, present and future and aspects of civilization than can be researched in the library. The sculpture depicts Port Macquarie as the centre of the universe.
Floodtide
By Max Scott 2004 | Wharf near Laurieton United Services Club, Seymour Street
Local artist Max Scott, was inspired by an old photo of a ship built at this site. Floodtide, is made of local timber and employs traditional ship building methods. Carvings and relieved images reflecting Birpai totems, local history and scenic beauty. Timbers are identified by carved species names and past flood levels are marked on a piece of red mahogany nearby.
Spindrift
By Mary Tyquin 2004 | Ocean Drive Bonny Hills overlooking Rainbow Beach
Mary Tyquin was inspired by the wind, the sea and its waves when she designed Spindrift. The sea coloured, three and half metre high stainless steel sculpture, consists of three pieces of steel, which combine in a kelp like manner to give protection from the southerlies during winter. A wooden seat is incorporated into the sculpture to contribute to the enjoyment of the spectacular view of Rainbow Beach all the way up the coast to Lighthouse Beach.
Werrikimbe Mural & Sculptural Rocks
By Jo Davidson, Stephen Killick & Tertius 1999 | Bain Park, Wauchope
This dramatic mural, sculptural works and landscaping depict scenes from Werrikimbe National Park. The structure was created by Jo Davidson, Tertius and Stephen Killick in 1999 to encourage locals and tourists to visit the spectacular National Parks within the Greater Port Macquarie region.
The Drip
By Peter Allison 2005 | Cowarra Dam
Standing 4.5 metres tall with a diameter of almost 2 metres. The concept is designed to draw the attention of the viewer to the essence of what the dam site is all about - water in its micro and macro forms. It is hoped that the viewer will reflect upon the enormity of our dependence on this precious resource.
Sea Life on the Guruk Coastline
By Mel Streater 2022 | Coastal Walk, via Charlie Upton Walk, Town Beach
Designed by Mel Streater - a Wiradjuri artist born on Birpai Country, the 70-metre project was installed for Reconciliation Week 2022 by local artist Brad Collins.
Reading the mural: Guruk is home to many wonderful sea creatures, great and small. With the mural you will find humpback whales making their annual migration along the east coast, playful dolphins that surf the waves, lots of fish, some coral mountains, colourful crabs, meeting places and journey line.
May we walk gently as one, caring for Country and community
Comboyne illustrated map
By Kim Mclean 2023 | Main Street Comboyne
Port Macquarie artist Kim McLean designed this large illustrated mural showcasing all the Comboyne region has to offer. The mural sits proudly in the centre of Comboyne on the villages’ service station and local store.
Leaves of Kendall
By Girikami Weissman 2004 | Kendall Road, Kendall
The three giant coloured gum leaves tell a symbolic story of Kendall’s unique identity and its association with timber. It captures the Kendall National Violin Competition, poetry and railway history. This work by Giri Weissman makes a fitting entrance to the township as you travel from Kew. Located on the right hand side of the Kendall Bridge, Kendall Road.
Dhoongang
By Angela Roberts, assisted by Casey Roberts, Louise Mitchell and Chris Donovan, 2022 | Bain Park, Wauchope NSW
Dhoongang- the Hastings River and its creatures was created by local Birpai Artist Angela Roberts, with all the creatures originally drawn by the Kids from Birpai Country group, during a workshop held in 2020 at the Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The Hastings River was, and continues to be, central to the life and culture of our First Nation’s people sustaining countless generations prior to white settlement.
Just as the Birpai peoples have been custodians of the Hastings River for millennia, so now we are all caretakers for the future generations.