South Gippsland Shire Street and Public Art
There is some very interesting street and public art around the South Gippsland Shire.
Foster
Arrival of Gold Seekers Mural
On the morning tide .... arrival of gold seekers at the landing, Stockyard Creek c1870.
Location: On west wall of Pulhams Furniture and Carpet building, 13 Main Street, Foster
Wunman Njinde Wominjeka
Wunman Njinde Wominjeka - Welcome from the Creator Spirits of the Land
"Boorun the Pelican flies in from the east across the mountains. Tuk the Musk Duck joins him as they travel in their canoe around the islands and the waters of Corner Inlet. Mother and Father of the Gunnai Kurnai, they carry the stories of the land and sea. Bunjil the eagle flies in from the west. He circles above us on powerful wings, Creator Spirit of the Kulin he remembers the creation of the rivers, the mountains, the creatures and the people."
Location: P J Wilson Reserve, 2 Berry Street, Foster
Life is a Passing Shadow Mural
Location: Rear of Pulhams Furniture and Carpet building, 13 Main Street, Foster
Mystic Themed Murals
Location: Rear of Pulhams Furniture and Carpet building, 13 Main Street, Foster
Fish Sculpture
Location: Cnr Davis Road and Hoddle Road, Foster
Foster Post Office Mural
Location: 22 Main Street, Foster
Rotunda Murals
Artwork by South Gippsland Secondary College students from the GippsTAFE Cert. II Building & Construction course & the Year 9 Community Program. December 2013.
Location: 9 Main Street, Foster
Foster Skatepark Murals
A number of nice murals along the side walls of the skate park, including by Heesco.
Location: 27 Pioneer Street, Foster
Paragreen Real Estate Mural by Eric Envy (2000)
Location: Paragreen Real Estate Wall, 52 Main Street, Foster
Steampunk Water Maze by David Bell
Designed to intrigue the viewer, while offering fresh water as a reward. There are interactive elements that create a puzzle that can't be solved. Featuring a strong water theme and an industrial /maritime collection of H2O equipment. On one hand it makes some sense, while also offering intrinsic humour in the complexity of the arrangement. Where is the source of the water? ...Clean, fresh, water from the rolling green hills of South Gippsland. It is hoped this fountain and sculpture will encourage locals and visitors alike to; drink more tap water, reduce their plastic waste and enjoy the community of Foster. Cheers!
The covered walkway also includes other artwork.
Location: Covered walkway next to Foodworks, 37 Main Street, Foster
South Gippsland Visitor Information Centre Sculptures
Location: South Gippsland Visitor Information Centre, Cnr McDonald Street and Main Street, Foster
Koonwarra
Koonwarra Recreation Reserve Murals by Robert Wood (2012)
Murals on toilets and a mural in knot of tree (unfinished when we visited)
Location: Koonwarra Recreation Reserve, 25 Buckingham and Fowler Road, Koonwarra
Korumburra
Coal Creek Heritage Park Coal Miner Sculpture sculpted by Barry Wakley. Unveiled on 20th April 1989.
Black coal was discovered in Korumburra in 1872 and mined commercially from 1891 to 1957. Coal was directly responsible for the establishment of the town and for the construction of the railway. The field was one of the first in Victoria and employed 1000 miners. The largest mine was the Coal Creek Pty Co. which employed 500 miners and reached a peak production of 500 tonnes per day in 1895.
The original statue on this site was fashioned, designed and donated by Robert McMaster as a tribute to his miner mates and was demolished after being vandalised in 1987.
Location: Out the front of Coal Creek Heritage Park, 12 Silkstone Road, Korumburra
Korumburra Drafting & Building Design Mural by Dennis Leversha
Location: Wall of Korumburra Drafting & Building, 22 Mine Road, Korumburra
Korumburra Timber Yard Mural by Dennis Leversha
Location: 123 Commercial Street, Korumburra
Kurrle's Korumburra Hotel Fire Mural by Dennis Leversha
Location: 68 Commercial Street, Korumburra
Korumburra Railway Subway Mural
The project is part of South Gippsland Shire Council's 'Girls Own Space' initiative. The tunnel site is one of a series of similar 'Girls Own Space' public artworks that have been created in designated spaces across Korumburra, Leongatha, Foster and Mirboo North.
The project was born out of public concern regarding violence against women, and aims to encourage women and girls to feel more safe, secure and welcome in public places. With offensive and derogatory graffiti visible at the opposite end of the tunnel, clearly targeting women walking through the passageway, the compelling need for such a project was evident.
Local young women (aged 15 to 28 years) worked with professional artists and community members to re-imagine and re-paint the tunnel, in order to draw attention to these gender equity issues though art.
Location: 48 Commercial Street, Korumburra
Station Laneway Mural by Melanie Caple
"This mural acknowledges Korumburra's dual landscapes. Starting with the depiction of local native birds and botanicals I aimed to ground this design in the species that have lived on these hills for centuries. The choice to showcase small native birds is deliberate. Taking my cue from the town's coal history, I started thinking about miners' reliance on canaries in days past. That led me to ponder changing migration and habitation patterns as the world changes around these little creatures, as it is in the prevalence or absence of these small birds that indicate issues with a changing climate. I have chosen to feature a double-barred finch, a flame robin, a silver-eye, a golden whistler and a red-browed finch, all small birds found in the Korumburra region. Alongside these avian species are old gladioli blooms and ginkgo leaves that are showcased within the town's streetscapes. These are teamed with leaves of the native mountain ash and local grevillea species."
Birds highlighted are Double-barred finch, Flame Robin, Silvereye, Golden Whistler and Red-browed finch.
Location: 48 Commercial Street, Korumburra
Leongatha
Leongatha Nature Mural by Melanie Caple
A huge nature-inspired mural which features native birds and foliage which is popular in Leongatha gardens. It has a female Magpie with a background of Leucadendron plants, blue-winged parrot, brass herons and Gippsland Panther (there hasn't been a sighting in the last 20 years but prior to this it was spotted by many people) with a flame robin and black-faced cuckoo-shrike.
Location: Approved by ED exterior wall, 62 McCartin Street, Leongatha
Loch
Loch Centennial Park Ploughing Mural
The singe furrow horse-drawn mulboard plough was used on most farms in the Loch area for growing crops such as onions and potatoes and for preparing land to be sown to pasture. The horse-drawn sledge was the most popular means of transporting goods on farms in this area until the little Grey Ferguson tractor took over in the early 1950's. The sledge was built and donated by John Vuillermin.
Location: Centennial Park, 25 Victoria Road, Loch
Postcards from Loch Village Mural
Location: Wall of toilet block, Centennial Park, 25 Victoria Road, Loch
South Gippsland Highway Underpass Murals by @JackandJosh
Location: Sunnyside Park, South Gippsland Highway Underpass, Loch
Meeniyan
Ghost Horses Sculpture
To commemorate the role of the horse, specifically the 8th Light Horse Regiment WW1 whose many serviceman came from South Gippsland. Created by the Meeniyan & District RSL & HorseArtsAnzac Project.
Location: Tomkins Road beside Great Southern Rail Trail, Meeniyan
Toora
Stanley Street Mural by Dennis Leversha
Location: 65 Stanley Street, Toora
Toora Bus Shelter Ceramics
Ceramic murals at bus shelter.
Location: 33 Gray Street, Toora
ViPlus Dairy Cow Head
Location: Out the front of ViPlus Dairy Plant, 67 Toora Jetty Road, Toora
Toora Lions Club Mural
Location: Cnr Toora Jetty Road and Harriet Street, Toora
Toora Primary School Sports Stadium Horse Mural by Kaff-eine, Melanie Caple and friends (2022)
Location: Toora Primary School Sports Stadium (south wall), Harriet Street (near Richards Lane), Toora
Toora Primary School Sports Stadium North Wall Murals
Location: Toora Primary School Sports Stadium (north wall), Harriet Street (near Richards Lane), Toora
Toora Primary School Sports Stadium East Wall Murals
Location: Toora Primary School Sports Stadium (east wall), Harriet Street (near Richards Lane), Toora
Venus Bay
Jupiter Park Water Tank Murals by Amanda Diamond
Birds featured on the tanks, which are found in the Liptrap district, are Eastern Spinebill, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian Pied Oystercatcher and Beautiful Firetail.
Location: Jupiter Park, 126 Jupiter Boulevard, Venus Bay
Van Cleef Reserve Flower Sculptures
Location: Van Cleef Reserve, Cnr April Avenue and Lees Road, Venus Bay
Various Locations
South Gippsland ArtCubes by Melanie Caple (2022)
Three ArtCubes which are all made from adapted cube containers. Located at Toora 18 July - 28 October 2024, Foster 29 October 2024 - 20 January 2025, Venus Bay 21 January - 28 April 2025. More information about ArtCubes
Location: Mobile and located at various locations.
