Baw Baw Shire Street and Public Art
There is a vibrant arts culture within the Baw Baw Shire. This is shown by the extensive public street art in the form of murals and sculptures.
Drouin
Flowering Gum Sculpture
Location: Drouin Civic Park, 33 Young Street, Drouin
Three Kurnai Women by sculptors Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton, Jessie McLennan and writer Jeannie Naughton. The Creative Team: Kurnai Elders Cheryl Drayton and Lynette Hayes
Ordinary yet extraordinary leaders of the Kurnai Community
Three Kurnai Women acknowledges the leadership, tenacity, wisdom and cultural integrity of Dorothy Hood, Euphemia Mullet/ Tonkin and Regina Rose as they raised their young people in adversity. The women balanced the tightrope between honouring their Kurnai heritage while still seeking to obey government decrees and living constantly with the fear of having their children removed.
In the everyday living of their lives, including the years at Jacksons Track, the three women passed on cultural learnings and practices ensuring the traditional ways and knowledge were not lost.
The women walked tall in their own communities. There was much fun and laughter amid the serious and disciplined routines Dorothy established to prove they were responsible and caring parents who kept their camp ordered and very clean. The Jackson's Track community lived along a river in Labertouche from the late 1940s to 1962, cautiously out of sight and under the cloud of repressive laws and regulations. The women continued to lead the community through years of turbulent transition and dislocation when the Board of Protection moved the families into Drouin township.
Location: Drouin Civic Park, 33 Young Street, Drouin
Path of Achievement
The 'Path of Achievement' starts in Drouin Civic Park at the mosaic serpent's head, designed and made by the Koori community. It winds its way up the hill into the Drouin Recreation Reserve and out to Victoria Street. Access to the recreation reserve may be restricted during home football games. The pathway artistically celebrates the contribution and achievements of the Drouin and District community to sport and recreation.
Along the path are sports balls sculpture and shuttlecock sculpture.
Location: Drouin Civic Park, 33 Young Street, Drouin
Federation Ceramic Mural by Rex Greenland (2002)
Location: Drouin Civic Park, 33 Young Street, Drouin
Baw Baw Council Offices Mosaic Mural by Maery Gabriel, Ellinbank (1932-2011)
Coolah-in the Forest, Water has opened the Earth to reveal riches.
Location: Inside Drouin Civic Offices, 33 Young Street, Drouin
Drouin Swimming Pool Fence Sculptures
Metal outlines of native birds and animals on the wire fence.
Location: Northern Fence, 22 Sinclair Street, Drouin
McNeilly Wetlands Sculpture
Location: 50 Jackson Drive, Drouin
McNeilly Park Playground Sculpture
Location: 50 Jackson Drive, Drouin
Erica
Welcome to Erica Township Wooden Sign
Location: Entrance to Erica
Jindivick
There is a lot of artwork to be discovered throughout Nangara Reserve.
At the entrance there is:
A rock with a ceramic mural of a lyrebird
"Kurnai Ancestor Dreaming" painted by Dale Hayes and Lionel Rose Jnr.
The Dreaming of the Kurnai Ancestors is explained in this painting by the representation of our Elders hands on the night sky with stars. When these hands are included with the Kurnai shield they become representation of the ancestors of this place. The fairy wrens are the totem of the Kurnai people. This painting has proudly been erected in their country and the landscape where they belong; as a mark of respect. The artists are both descendants of "Stewart Hood" the patriarch and respected senior Elder where direct descendants still inhabit this land.
There are also many painted bollards along Nangara Loop.
Beside Nangara Loop is "Bloom No 3", a sculpture by John Bishop.
Further along in a clearing are six wonderful kids wombat seats chainsawed by Lynette Childe, a Jindivick resident 1990-2017.
Along Tatelek (Frog) Track there is a sculpture "Tiddalick" by sculptor David Doyle.
Along Quarry Track on the way to an entrance / exit on Jacksons Track there are a series of six sculptures on pedestals.
Bushfires - Black Thursday Feb 6 1851, Black Sunday Feb 14 1926, Black Friday Jan 13 1939 and Black Saturday Feb 7 2009.
Dairying 1880
Timber First Mill 1881
Pioneers 1850
Stuart Hood 1940
Kitty Johnson, Youwali
Near the Jacksons Track entrance/exit is a kookaburra metal sculpture.
Location: 95 Nangara Road, Jindivick
Lardner
Lardner Park Mural by Simon White
Location: Lardner Park, 155 Burnt Store Road, Lardner
Longwarry
Longwarry and District CFA Mural, by Simon White (2024)
The mural for the Longwarry Historical Society recreates a photograph taken in 1905 of the Longwarry Fire Brigade.
Location: Longwarry CFA, 15 Bennett Street, Longwarry
Neerim South
Golden Hour Mural by Melanie Caple (2024)
A celebration of the West Gippsland bush which uses colour and light to capture the moments and gradients of dusk in our scrubby landscape. Inspired by the ranges that surround this rural town (the Yarra Ranges, Bunyip State Park and the Sweetwater Creek Reserve Walk), the mural features an eastern whip bird, yellow-tailed black cockatoo, male satin bower and female satin bower bird with blue gum leaves, trigger plant flowers and hellebores as a nod to the beautiful gardens that people have established in this special climate.
Location: IGA Side Wall, 147 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Neerim Bower by by the Neerim District Progress Association with local artists Phil Henshall, Christine Cochran and Keith Graham
It's impossible to miss the mighty 7-storey sculptural gateway at Neerim South's southern entrance. Two giant blue grass-like structures flank the Main Neerim Road, a tribute to the indigenous Satin Bowerbird. The intertwining sticks symbolise the bowerbird?s nest, and the species' love of the colour blue. Satin Bowerbird bowers are made of grass and are decorated with blue ornaments by male birds in an attempt to attract a mate.
Location: South entrance to Neerim South, 1745-1775 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Neerim South Basketball Stadium Mural by Bechaz Art Designs
Location: 15 Neerim East Road, Neerim South
Cow and Calf Sculpture
Location: Beside playground, 150 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Wings of Desire Sculpture by Rudi Jess (2022)
Artist statement: "Art is a desire and a need to react creatively to the artistic processes that occur during the production of a piece. It is the love for materials, problem solving and the need to create, which are the foundations of my work"
Location: Beside playground, 150 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Cut Steel Birds of Neerim South by David Doyle
The Neerim District Progress Association acquired these six panels, along with twenty four smaller panels. The smaller panels are displayed throughout the Neerim South Wetlands.
Location: Beside playground, 150 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Neerim South Primary School Mural by Melanie Caple
Location: Neerim South Primary School, 180 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Cut Steel Birds of Neerim South by David Doyle
The Neerim District Progress Association acquired twenty four small panels which are displayed throughout the Neerim South Wetlands.
Location: Neerim South Wetlands, Railway Road, Neerim South
Totem Sculpture by Graham Duell (c.2023)
Artist Statement: "The Superb Fairy Wren is the totem for the local Kurnai group, and is a very common and recognisable inhabitant"
Location: Outside The Serigraph Gallery, 157 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Tranquillity Sculpture by Andrew Kasper (2014)
Artist Statement: "My approach for this work is the pursuit of excellence, looking for beauty and simplicity simultaneously. I am looking to pass on a feeling to the viewer and in this case its tranquillity. This feeling of tranquillity may also relate to us when we are observing birds in nature as well as other times in our lives."
Location: In front of IGA, 147 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Tree of Life Sculpture by Rudi Jass
Artist Statement: "The love for materials, problem solving, and the need to create, are the foundations of my work. Art keeps me genuine".
Location: Outside Bendigo Bank, 143 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Origami Inspired Birds in Colour by David Doyle (2022)
Artist Statement: "Based on the colourful paper 'origami' birds."
Location: Side of Bendigo Bank, 143 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Astro Boy Sculpture by Nicole Allen (2016)
Artist Statement: "Ever since man first saw a bird flying above, he's wondered what it would be like? Since then, he's tried everything to fly. He's jumped off cliffs, built balloons, planes and even spaceships. But the one thing he can't do, is grow wings. Or can he?"
Location: Outside Neerim South Milk Bar, 133 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Neerim South Milk Bar Mural
Location: Neerim South Milk Bar, 133 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Neerim District CWA Garden Murals
Location: Outside Bombshell Studio, 129-131 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Historical Turntable Cone
This cone formed part of a turntable used at the Neerim South Railway yards between 1892 and 1954. The turntable turned the steam engines that hauled trains between Neerim South and Warragul.
RELIC FROM THE PAST
When a relic from a hundred years ago was installed in the gardens in Neerim South's main street it brought back a rush of bitter-sweet memories for one elderly resident.
The relic - the turntable cone from the Neerim South railway yards was used from 1892 to turn the giant steam engines which hauled the trains from Warragul to Neerim South. Until 1917 the line terminated at Neerim South and ail engines had to be turned around for the return journey. The turntable, however, was in use for many years beyond that time.
To turn the steaming giant around the engine was shunted onto the straight stretch of line attached to the turntable and then, if the engine was precisely balanced, the whole thing was fairly simply turned manually.
Neerim South resident Jack Fallon, now eighty, and his brother the late Frank, lived by the line and like all small boys were fascinated by trains. However, this same fascination turned to tragedy one day in the 1920's when Jack was about eight years old. One of his young friends, Jim McDonald got too near and was caught up in the mechanism as the train turned. Unfortunately he was crushed to death. The sight of the cone in the gardens brought memories of the tragedy flooding back to Jack as he thought of the part the railway had played in his life.
The appearance of the cone had many people puzzled as they tried to imagine what it was. Although a relic from the past it bears a remarkable resemblance to a 20th century warhead.
The railways played a very important role in the development of this area of Gippsland. The roads were often impassable or didn't exist and the railways took timber and potatoes to Warragul for transfer all over the state, as well as carrying the much needed supplies to the early residents of the Neerim-Noojee areas. In the 1920's a carriage was added for passengers to travel to Warragul for Market Day on Thursdays. During the war years, 6000 tons of potatoes were carried from the Neerim-Nayook areas by rail.
The line carried the weight of the N class steam locomotives with the smaller J & K classes also using the line. Geoff Onslow of Warragul drove the line as a young man. He said the drivers all tried to get one of the N class engines as they had so much more power to haul the heavy loads of timber up from Noojee to Nayook.
The only remaining bridge on that part of the line is the number 7 bridge, the others were destroyed by fire or dismantled. The last goods train ran in 1954 although services had run down in the few years before that. The passenger train had also ceased running by 1954 although several older residents remember the special trains run for Queen Elizabeth ll's visit in 1954, and also for a visit by the Irish National Guards in October 1957.
The line to Neerim South was kept open beyond the time it was first expected to close because of good quality rock being available at the quarry near Rokeby. This rock was crushed and used as ballast when the main line beyond Warragul was duplicated and electrified.
A vast history of-the railway line to this area lies hidden in people's memories and old photos long forgotten. The Neerim District Lions club awakened some of those memories when they rescued the turntable cone from the rubble near the site of the old railway yards at Neerim South. They had it sandblasted at the Drouin West quarry and after a coat of paint, it was mounted on concrete in the centre of town as a tribute to the early railway men and the part the railway played in the development of the area.
Location: In front of Neerim South Home Hardware, 117 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
3 Birds on a Post by Laurie Collins
Artist Statement: "I had this lovely old fence post, and I had made three birds using pipe and different pieces. They suggested they combine and this lovely piece is the result".
Location: Outside Neeri Nuff Wine Bar & Kitchen, 115 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Albatross by Graham Duell
Artist Statement: The albatross embodies the spirit of freedom, spending much of its life on the wing, wandering the southern oceans.
Location: In front of St Johns Opportunity Shop, 114 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
The Collector by Christine Cochrane (2014)
This mural was installed to mark the celebration of the 21st Anniversary of the Community Bank in the Neerim District. The Community Bank has a significant record of community contributions as well as providing a vital service. This painting was inspired by the artistry of the Satin Bowerbird in building and decorating his bower with a collection of blue ornaments to attract a mate.
Location: Side wall of The Serigraph Gallery, 157 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South
Neerim South Pool Murals by Craig Fison
Murals on many walls of the pool.
Location: Neerim South Outdoor Pool, Swaffields Lane, Neerim South
Noojee
Noojee Public Toilets Mural by Danny Awes
Location: 22 Bennett Street, Noojee
Noojee Public Toilets Mural by Danny Awes
Location: Corner School Road and Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road, Noojee
Noojee Community Hall Mural by Danny Awes
Location: 7 Henty Street, Noojee
Tanjil Bren
Tanjil Bren Public Toilets Eye-Spy Mural by Daniel Wenn (2022)
The concept behind the chosen design was to showcase the flora and fauna of Tanjil Bren through a bright and colourful mural. Set against a lush background of trees, ferns, branches and leaves, the mural titled 'Eye-Spy' features a beautiful Boobook Owl, a male Fairywren, a Lyrebird, an Eastern Yellow Robin and a Leadbeater's Possum - all of which are protected local species.
Location: Tanjil Bren Public Toilet, 3518 Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road, Tanjil Bren
Thorpdale
Thorpdale Primary School Mural
Location: Cnr Morwell-Thorpdale Road and Hamilton Street, Thorpdale
Thorpdale Primary School Tank Mural
Location: Cnr Morwell-Thorpdale Road and Hamilton Street, Thorpdale
Echo Sculpture by Laurie Collins (2009)
Location: Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road, Thorpdale (north of Pioneer Park)
Trafalgar
Big Spuds and Forks Sculpture
Location: Spud Shed, Princes Highway (near Rankins Road), Trafalgar
McGregor Park Leaf Sculpture
Location: McGregor Park, 46 Contingent Street, Trafalgar
Warragul
Burke Street Park Bollards and Ceramics
Location: Near playground, 20 Burke Street, Warragul
Napier Street Mural by Ling
Inspiration for the designs came from the area's natural environment.
Location: 15 Napier Street, Warragul
Palmerston Street Mural by Dvate
Inspiration for the mural was based on a photograph of the native White-Naped Honeyeater, taken by photographer Greg Wyncoll. The Honeyeater is featured and is set among a vibrant background of local plant life.
Location: Priceline Pharmacy Wall, 13 Palmerston Street, Warragul
Lionel Rose Statue by Stephen Glassborow (2010)
Location: 74 Queen Street, Warragul
Earth Form Sculpture
Sacred Earth
Location: Queen Street Park, 74 Queen Street, Warragul
Termite Mounds Artwork by Don Barrett (2013)
Location: 1 Latrobe Street, Warragul
Archaeology of Time by James Geurts
Great Mountain Ash trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) once forested vast expanses of Gippsland. The absent space of this public sculpture acts as an archaeological dig and is based on the circumference of the world's tallest tree - 114.3 meters, found in Thorpdale and cut down to measure the height in 1884. The sculpture is positioned on an original site of a giant mountain ash tree and produced from a 3d scan of the living Ada tree, located near Powelltown, Yarra Ranges Shire.
Location: Civic Park (south end), 63 Albert Street, Warragul
Yarragon
Yarragon Public Toilets Mural by Matthew Thompson (Ling) (2022)
The concept was to showcase the Southern Emu Wren and Superb Blue Wren, which represent males and females in the Gunai Kurnai culture. The design also includes gum nuts and other local flora and fauna which highlights the history and beauty of the area.
Location: 2 Campbell Street, Yarragon
Pat, the Dog Sculpture Sculpture by members of the community led by Jessie McLennan. Mosaic coat by members of the community led by Janet Wyllie and the mosaic group from the BawBaw Arts Alliance.
Pat, the Dog was made in recognition, of all dogs that have been owned and loved in the Baw Baw shire and was inspired by Jeff Koons' sculpture, ""Puppy"" 1991.
In a tribute to internationally renowned, local mosaicist, Maery Gabriel (1945-2011), the sculpture is covered with mosaic, with a patchwork mosaic coat.
Location: Outside The Station Gallery, Princes Highway, Yarragon
Murray Street Playground Fence
Location: Cnr Cnr Murray St and Market Street, Yarragon
