Lismore Water Tower Art

The Lismore Water Tower, painted by Jimmi Buscombe, features two dancing brolgas in an early misty morning with some sheep in the distance. Plants around the base are Blue Devin, Feather Heads, Bright Heads, Agapanthus and Chocolate Lilies, which are all native to the area.



The mural is complimented by an augmented reality feature that allows visitors to view the hatching of two chicks being watched over by the adult birds.

Café:

The Fairway Coffee and Eatery is located at the Lismore Golf Club beside the water tower. The café has views of the artwork, golf course and surrounding countryside.

The menu includes cooked breakfasts, café treats, toasties, burgers, pizza and authentic Thai dishes at selected times. Eat-in and takeaway options are available. The venue is family-friendly and dog-friendly, with outdoor dining, parking and free Wi-Fi. Check Fairway Coffee and Eatery on Facebook for current opening hours and menus, or phone 0479 163 496.

Site Signage

Lismore History
Lismore was first settled in 1840 by Europeans when John Brown was forced to stop with a broken wagon axle while he forded the creek; now named Brown’s Water Holes. The town was surveyed and re-named Lismore in the 1850’s. The settlement at that time included a rough grog shanty called the White Swan Hotel and a few houses. Lismore Post Office opened on 1 December 1864.

Lismore grew through the years to become a prosperous service town for the surrounding fine wool producing properties. Its population peaked in the 1950s when many of the large properties of the area were divided into farms for returned soldiers. The town and surrounding area produce wool, lambs, cereals and canola.

Brolga (Antigone rubicunda)
The Brolga (formerly known as the Native Companion) is one of Australia’s two crane species. Brolgas inhabit large open wetlands, grassy plains and croplands. During the breeding season between July and December, large nests up to 1.5m across are built on freshwater marshes. Pairs usually lay 2 eggs and are recognised for their impressive courtship dance.

Grasslands
The Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) is a widespread area of natural temperate grasslands which stretch from Melbourne to the South Australian border and cover an area of 22,000 square kilometres. The plains are home to eight nationally threatened animal species and serves as a significant area for Aboriginal people. The grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains are critically endangered. Projects with landholders to restore this unique and diverse landscape are ongoing.

Lismore Golf Club
Lismore Golf Club was formed in 1930* and was known as the Lismore Township Golf Club. Links were originally laid out on land south of the town including the Common, Pound Paddock and part of the Recreation Reserve (showgrounds). The Club progressed and the links were eventually moved to a site on Crown Land, north of the town with Brown’s Water Holes running through. Here it remained until 1974. When 83 acres was purchased from the Burt sisters, Lismore Golf Club and the old clubhouse moved to this site. The present clubhouse was built and opened in 1999.

* The Golf Club located on Gala Station was active from the 1890s until the death of Erwin Currie in 1938.

Native Plants
BLUE DEVIL (Eryngium ovinum)
A perennial herb flowering in early summer. Flowering stems, up to 60 cm long, appear and produce masses of spikey bright blue flowers.

CHOCOLATE LILY (Arthropodium strictum)
A small, perennial grass-like herb with soft green leaves. Flowering in early spring to produce violet coloured flowers with a delightful vanilla/chocolate aroma.

FEATHER HEADS (Ptilotus macrocephalus)
An upright, tufted herb to 50 cm tall with fluffy bottle-brush type flowers from October-February. Was once widespread on dry sites in western Victorian grasslands but is becoming increasingly rare.

LEMON BEAUTY-HEADS (Calocephalus citreus)
A small perennial herb with slender, erect branches 15-60 cm high. The attractive silvery grey foliage dies back in winter. It has masses of egg-shaped lemon-yellow flower heads; hence its common name.

Water Tower
Early in the history of Lismore township, various schemes had been put forward for the provision of a water supply, but it was not until 1939 that the Lismore Water Trust was formed. In 1940 the reservoir dam and supply tower were completed. This system provided a reasonable supply of water at that time but proved inadequate for the increasing population. The pipeline from Camperdown to Lismore was completed in 1972, connecting Lismore to the Otway Scheme. The reservoir and supply tower continued service, watering the Lismore & District Golf Club greens until recent times.

Jimmi Buscombe - Artist
Jimmi Buscombe is a visual artist living in Warrnambool and specialises in artworks which depict the beauty of the natural world.

Jimmi has been involved in multiple public art projects around Victoria, including works for Werribee Open Range Zoo and projects for councils, schools and private commissions. Jimmi is well-known for his ‘accidental’ wombat mural on a rail bridge in Warrnambool. See Jimmi Buscombe - Artist.

Jimmi’s concept for the Lismore Water Tower, of dancing Brolgas and sheep standing in a misty morning paddock, was chosen as the successful submission from many worthy artists. In Jimmi’s own words “It was important to me that the Water Tower artwork sat gently into the surrounding landscape, whilst also depicting something that was beautiful and quintessentially Southwest Victorian”.

Global Power Generation (GPG)
This project was funded by GPG Australia (Naturgy Group) in partnership with Corangamite Shire and in consultation with a local Community Reference Group. The funding is part of the Community Engagement and Benefit Sharing Plan associated with the Berrybank 1 Wind Farm construction.

Location

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