Artists commissioned for an art project along the Great Victorian Rail Trail are in the midst of creating their works of sculptural art, with onsite works expected between March and April, 2023.
The Great ARTdoors Project will include seven major installations along the length of the 134-kilometre trail, which begins at Tallarook.
Taungurung artist Mick Harding has been commissioned to create a series of smaller works that will also be installed across Mansfield, Mitchell and Murrindindi shires.
Mr Harding has visited the trail to identify suitable locations for the placement of his artwork.
Onsite works are expected to start in March, with the project’s expected conclusion in April, 2023.
Mansfield, Mitchell and Murrindindi shire councils, in consultation with the project’s community reference group, appointed the artists following an extensive expression of interest and tender process earlier this year.
A series of new wayfinding and interpretive signs will also be installed along the trail in March.
The signs aim to improve the visitor experience on the trail, sharing Indigenous stories and information and connecting people with sites along the trail.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said the rail trail was an important part of the shire’s tourism offering, particularly through Tallarook, Trawool and Seymour.
“It is exciting to see the works taking shape and to get an insight into the connection each artist has to the area and what has inspired their pieces,” she said.
“The addition of these pieces will provide even more reasons for people to visit our region and support our local businesses, many of which have been badly impacted by the floods.
“I hope the pieces also encourage locals to reconnect with the river and start to experience the beauty in our natural environment again after the devastating floods. It would be great to see more public art in the future and we hope these works might be a catalyst for that.”
The project is made possible with funding of $1.2m from the State Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.