Moorabool Shire Street and Public Art
Moorabool has a number of public art installations throughout the shire.
Bacchus Marsh
The Platypus River Mural by Lukas Kasper (2022)
The mural helps promote awareness of the platypus and other unique fauna and flora in the Werribee River. The species included in the mural are: Platypus, Bacchus Marsh Wattle, Growling Grass Frog, Purple Crowned Lorikeet, Spotted Pardalote, Damselfly, River Red Gum. All of these species occur along the Werribee River in Bacchus Marsh. The shapes and colours in the mural represent some of the other local native plants found along this section of the river.
Location: Side of Bacchus Marsh Outdoor Swimming Pool, 55 Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh
Colourful Flower Mural by Lukas Kasper (2022)
Location: Near entrance to Peppertree Park, 55 Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh
Ballan
Moorabool Earth Totem by Peter Blizzard (2009)
The late artist, Peter Blizzard, created Moorabool Earth Totem to capture the spirit of the Moorabool community. Located outside the Mechanics' Institute in Ballan, Moorabool Earth Totem draws inspiration from the surrounding environment and landscape. The towering totem not only represents key geological features, such as the local waterways, rivers and mountains but also honours the people of the area. If you look closely, an outline of the You Yangs can be seen across the top of the sculpture.
Location: 143 Inglis Street, Ballan
The Red Dot by Ayob bin Ismail (2010)
A kinetic artwork by Singaporean artist Ayob bin Ismail which is made from seven geometric plates, each representing a key facet of Ballan: community, natural landscape, history, culture, arts, vibrancy and tourism. The Red Dot symbolises prosperity, longevity and harmony for the Shire. This name also nods to Singapore's affectionate moniker, 'little red dot', which celebrates the nation's achievements despite its limited land size.
Location: Outside Council Offices, 15 Stead Street, Ballan
Ballan Mineral Spring Sculpture
The aim of the wooden sculptural work and interpretative signage is to reconnect the mineral spring site at Ballan (and also at Spargo Creek) with the Moorabool River and broader landscapes of the area, and to acknowledge Indigenous connection to the sites. The sculptural installations consist of two interconnected works made from 120 year old locally sourced red gum, that reflect the ecological and cultural values of the mineral springs and the Moorabool River.
Location: Ballan Mineral Reserve, Shaws Road, Ballan
1000 Weathervanes in Ballan
You won't find as many as 1000 weathervanes around Ballan but keep your eyes open and looking upwards.
Location: Various locations around Ballan
Darley
Fearless by Anuradha Patel and Velislav Georgiev (2011)
Fearless was inspired by the Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh. Crafted from stainless steel, the collaborative work by Anuradha Patel and Velislav Georgiev, depicts shiny silver trees and a golden wedge-tailed eagle (Bunjil). The trees appear to be holding up the eagle, encouraging it to soar. Velislav, has a vivid memory of a wedge-tailed eagle (Bunjil) flying over him as he was completing the sculpture.
Location: Moorabool Shire Council Civic Hub, 182 Halletts Way, Darley
Binak Biik by Aunty Kim Wandin and Christine Joy (2013)
Binak Biik, also known as Basket Country, is a project that encourages a tactile exploration of the local landscape through woven baskets, plants and basalt rocks. The work highlights fibre and food plants including Wallaby grass (Rytidosperma caespitosum) and Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra). These plants produce seeds (Woiwurrung - buath dirrandil) which are ground and milled into flour for damper. The basalt rocks reflect the geology of the Western Plains.
Binak Biik honours all layers of Wurundjeri Country, recognising it as a life-giver and provider. The work also acknowledges Wurundjeri women (bagurrk) as the weavers in community. The baskets are symbolic, representing the preservation of a traditional lifestyle and a resilient community. Women, as gatherers of knowledge and stories, use baskets as vessels to gather food and provide for their family. These baskets also hold babies (bubup).
The process for this sculpture began with fibre baskets woven by master weaver and Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Kim Wandin, using techniques passed down through her matrilineal heritage and rooted in deep time. The fibre baskets were then cast and transformed into bronze sculptures.
The basalt plains of Western Victoria once supported biodiverse and widespread grasslands. Due to colonisation, this ecosystem is now critically threatened, primarily because of extensive land clearing for the farming of hard-hooved animals that destroy plants and soil. Precious remnant vegetation offers shelter to endangered animal species including the Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana) and the critically endangered plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus), both also face threats from introduced predators such as cats and foxes. Over millennia, management of the landscape by Wurundjeri people created a sustainable living landscape based on reciprocity and respect.
Location: Telford Park All-Abilities Sculpture Trail, 88 Wittick Street, Darley
Spargo Creek
'Brim Brim' Spargo Creek Mineral Spring Reserve Sculpture
The aim of the wooden sculptural work and interpretative signage is to reconnect the mineral spring site at Spargo Creek (and also at Ballan) with the Moorabool River and broader landscapes of the area, and to acknowledge Indigenous connection to the sites. The sculptural installations consist of two interconnected works made from 120 year old locally sourced red gum, that reflect the ecological and cultural values of the mineral springs and the Moorabool River. Brim Brim is the Wadawurrung word for spring waters.
Location: Spargo Creek Mineral Spring Reserve, 1399 Ballan-Daylesford Road, Spargo Creek
There are also ten paste-ups across the shire.
