Art Enriches Yarra Ranges Walking TrailsArt Enriches Yarra Ranges Walking Trails Along the scenic walking trails of the Yarra Ranges, visitors are greeted by vibrant art, enhancing the connection between nature and culture. The Ngurrak Barring | RidgeWalk trail now features two captivating artworks: Peter McIlwain’s “Pathmarker Birds” and Renate Crow’s sculpture, “Tawny Frogmouth.” “Pathmarker Birds” At Birdsland Reserve, McIlwain’s “Pathmarker Birds” adorn the trails, serving as visual guideposts. Their geometric designs and stylized bird forms create a playful and abstract aesthetic, drawing inspiration from ancient art traditions. “Tawny Frogmouth” Karwarra Australian Plant Garden and Nursery hosts Crow’s large “Tawny Frogmouth” sculpture. Nestled amidst the lush greenery, the sculpture invites interaction and reflection. Visitors can sit alongside it and leave written notes, sharing their experiences and honoring the iconic bird. Art and Nature Intertwined These artworks enhance the RidgeWalk trail, connecting art with nature and inviting people to engage with the region’s cultural and environmental heritage. Ngurrak Barring | RidgeWalk The 39-kilometer Ngurrak Barring | RidgeWalk trail offers a diverse range of art and interpretive content along its path, encouraging exploration and appreciation of the Yarra Ranges. Public Response Both artists express their delight at the public’s positive reception to their works. “Tawny” has provided a sense of familiarity and connection, while “Pathmarker Birds” has sparked curiosity and appreciation for the surrounding landscape. As the Ngurrak Barring | RidgeWalk trail continues to evolve, these artworks will serve as enduring landmarks, enriching the experience of exploring the Yarra Ranges.
Peter McIlwain’s art series is now on display at Birdsland Reserve (Stewart Chambers: 418699_10).
By Tanya Steele
In recent weeks, more and more art has been appearing along a number of iconic walking trails in the Yarra Ranges.
A series of vibrant signs and a large animal sculpture have both found a new home and become part of a larger project in progress: the Ngurrak Barring I Ridgewalk trail.
People can now see the Pathmarker Birds at Birdsland Reserve in Belgrave Heights and the Tawny Frogmouth at Karwarra Australian Plant Garden and Nursery in Kalorama.
“Council is pleased to announce the return of two popular artworks to the Ngurrak Barring I Ridgewalk trail,” a council representative said.
“These artworks help mark the Ngurrak Trail as it evolves, creating a deeper connection to the land and its stories,” they said.
Peter McIlwain’s artworks, Pathmarker Birds, and Renate Crow’s sculpture Tawny Frogmouth, are now on display along the route. Both artists are pleased to see their work in new locations.
“Having Tawny so close to home again, in a truly beautiful environment, feels like coming home,” says Renate.
The large animal sculpture is nestled in the Karwarra Gardens, providing a presence that overlooks the gardens. The public can interact with the sculpture and sit in and around it, and are also invited to write notes to Tawny.
“I love reading about the interaction with Tawny and what it means to people. I’ve had some really nice reactions,” said Renate.
Visitors to the Birdlands Reserve can now also spot Peter McIllwain’s series “Pathmaker Birds” while walking the trails.
In a description on his website, artist Peter wrote that road markings have been used for thousands of years to connect a specific place to a broader context.
“Holy places connect pilgrims to religious experiences, memorials to historical events, and roadside memorials to traffic accidents,” the message said.
“The design style of his work draws on modern and ancient artistic traditions, including the striking, highly stylized bas-reliefs of the Maya.”
“The layered design uses recurring modules of body parts: eye, heart, intestines etc., so that the works are both abstract geometric pieces with a visual rhythm that continues from piece to piece, while at the same time being playful stylised representations of birds.”
The Ngurrak Barring | RidgeWalk covers 39 kilometres of walking trails and is specifically designed to allow people to explore the region.
Various forms of art and interpretive content can be discovered along the route.
The duo were commissioned by the council in early 2023 to create temporary public artworks along the first section of the trail in Sassafras.
Renate said she hopes the public can continue to enjoy her work and the gardens.
“People recognize them, they see them (brown frogmouths) everywhere,” she said.
Work on the Ngurrak Barring I Ridgewalk route continues and track improvements for Bleakley Track in Sherbrooke Forest were recently completed, bringing the railway back into service.
