Guir Wakul Gagil at Mrs York's Garden Reserve. Photo: PMHC.
IF you are wanting to spend an afternoon, or whole day even, exploring the natural beauty of Port Macquarie-Hastings, you can create a trail across the region that includes our stunning public art installations.
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From the historic "Folly" at Windmill Hill to the seven majestic Birpai totems and beautiful steel sculpture "The Drip" by artist Peter Allison at the Cowarra Dam picnic area, there's plenty to enjoy.
See how many you can find:
Folly at Windmill Hill, Port Macquarie.
Port Macquarie
- A device for orientating oneself with the universe: Stephen Killick, 2001. Gordon Street outside 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.
- Harry's Spiral Path: Sue Bell, 2005. Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie. Locals made ceramic tiles telling stories of the late Harry Thomspon, artist and caretaker who made Shelly Beach his home from 1960 until his passing.
Harry's spiral path. Photo: PMHC.
- Mayor of Shelly Beach totem: Stephen Killick and Stephen King, 2005. Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie. A recreation of Harry's caravan as a picnic table and totem reflecting his unofficial title of mayor of Shelly Beach, Harry Thompson.
- Folly: Rick Reynolds, 2005. Windmill Hill Reserve, Port Macquarie. 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.
Quiver at Sovereign Hills.
- Quiver: Gregg Mitchell and Quentin Gore, 2020. Sovereign Hills Town Centre. This work was rolled and painted to reflect the beautiful aqua blue coastline and vibrant green rainforest and mountain ranges of the Port Macquarie-Hastings region. Quiver was a nice reference to the way leaves move on a tree, but it's a collection of surfboards, so it has double meaning.
- Port Gateway: Rick Reynolds, 2012. Oxley Highway roundabout, off the Pacific Highway. Those taking a feng shui perspective on this one say the top cone captures the good energy from the universe and the bottom cone grounds it maintaining the wellbeing of the area. It's open to interpretation.
- Guir Wakul Gagil: Mrs York's 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.
Spindrift, Bonny Hills. Photo: PMHC.
Bonny Hills
- Spindrift: 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.
Shark, one of the Camden Haven floodmarkers. Photo: PMHC.
Camden Haven
- Whiting at Ostler Park, North Haven to the Shark at Bruce Porter Reserve, near Laurieton Sea Rescue. Rick Reynolds, 2006. 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".
Floodtide. Photo: PMHC.
- Floodtide: 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.
The Drip at Cowarra Dam.
Cowarra Dam
- Birpai totems, mosaic seats, ceramic tile artworks: Various artists. Off Sarah's Crescent, King Creek.
- The Drip: Peter Allison, 2005. Cowarra Dam.
Leah Bale, Rosalind Lowe and Angela Roberts are three of the artists who designed the Birpai totems on display at Cowarra Dam
Wauchope
- Werrikimbee Mural and sculptural rocks: 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.
Werrikimbee Mural. Photo: PMHC.
Kendall
- Leaves of Kendall: 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.
Leaves of Kendall. Photo: PMHC.