Next time you’re exploring some of Western Australia, get a culture fix by checking out these six sculpture walks that all have amazing stories to tell, and are surrounded by nature.
Lake Ballard: figures on the salt plains
In the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about fifty kilometres northwest of the town of Menzies and about 180 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie, you’ll find other-wordly Lake Ballard.
To reach this 4,900-hectare mesmerising white and red salt pan, you’re in for some classic outback driving; think bright red dirt, big blue skies and a seemingly endless horizon. On the 50-kilometre long, 20-kilometre wide shimmering ancient lake bed stand fifty-one silent, gangly, ghostly figures that are the brilliant work of British artist Antony Gormley.
Cast in steel in a Perth foundry in 2003, the installation called Inside Australia took eighteen volunteers four days to complete.
Time your visit between April and October, when the days are mild and the ground is firm underfoot. Arrive at dawn or dusk, when the setting or rising sun has the sculptures casting long shadows across the salt pans.
Climb to the top of Ironstone Hill on the rough, rocky track for an amazing photo of fifty-one figures scattered across the vast land. It’s a photographer’s dream, as few places offer a view of sculptures surrounded by such stunning outback landscape.
Understory: a walk of poetic wonders
Four hours south of Perth, where the highway narrows and the karri trees close overhead like a green cathedral, Northcliffe waits. It’s a quiet and unassuming place, but there’s an extraordinary nature walk just behind the Northcliffe Visitor Centre.
Understory Art & Nature Trail is a 1.2-kilometre circuit through stunning forests of majestic karri trees and windswept coastal scrub that’s home to more than 70 sculptures created by local and international artists.
The artworks are quite literally woven into the undergrowth – some hidden in hollows, others rising from the leaf litter as though the forest grew them itself. All of the pieces are inspired by the sights, sounds, smells, stories and spirit of Northcliffe.
The sculpture walk has been called a love letter to nature. Poetry, music and sculptures thread the trail together, so that every bend in the path reveals a new artwork, a fragment of a verse, and even voices carried on the breeze.
The Voices from the Forest audio tour was created for little ones, with five story nooks where children can stop and listen to stories written by author Dianne Wolfer, that are narrated by animals of the forest.
After your walk, relax at Gather & Graze Cafe – a charming eatery and florist serving breakfast, lunch and delicious locally roasted coffee. Enjoy farm-fresh produce and home-baked treats while reflecting on the art and the ever-changing beauty of nature.
Burswood Park: bold stories in bronze
Minutes from Perth’s city centre, the Burswood Park Heritage Sculpture Trail is a stunning collection of more than a dozen bronze sculptures designed and produced by the Smith Sculptors: aka Joan-Walsh Smith and Charles Smith.
Scattered throughout the charming manicured gardens and along the riverbank, the sculptures are a celebration of Perth’s historical figures, crafted in classical figurative art and commemorating those who built the community around them.
The whimsical tableau of children playing hopscotch is a reminder from the artists that the trail isn’t just for looking, but for enjoying.
Beautiful Byford Sculpture Trail
The 6.2-kilometre Byford Sculpture Trail is about 30 kilometres southeast of Perth. It was created by sculptor Len Zuks, who was the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2009 Sculptures by the Sea exhibition.
Len was commissioned to tell the town’s history with the sculptures that stand between 2.4 and 4 metres in height. They’re impossible to miss.
The trail weaves its way through the cafes, pubs and shops of Byford, with each of the nine sculptures sharing an interesting, poignant story.
A Returned serviceman honours the local men who came home from the First World War while another sculpture pays tribute to Sister Wossley, who cared for the children of Byford in the 1940s during World War II. A horse and jockey commemorate Rivose – Byford’s own 1919 Perth Cup champion, and near the library, an owl sculpture simply watches the world go by.
After enjoying the trail, head to the Fig and Ivy – a laid-back local cafe known for its wholesome food and specialty coffee. It’s dog-friendly, and is the perfect way to end a beautiful day out and about admiring art.
Sculpture walk in Margaret River
At the edge of the beautiful Margaret River region, where the river meets the Indian Ocean, you’ll find the enchanting Prevelly Coastal Art Trail.
With a mix of paved footpaths, grass and limestone tracks, soft sands and gravel, the terrain changes beneath your feet as you traverse the Prevelly coastline – a place where 2.9 kilometres of nature and sculptures mingle.
Carved wooden figures rise up from the dunes like spirits caught mid-movement. There’s a woman cradling a baby whale, limestone monuments commemorating the tragic 2011 bushfires, and a larger-than–life sculpture called The Stick – honouring the bond between dogs and their owners.
You might catch surfers carving the same waves that inspired some of the pieces of art.
When the trail loops around, stroll South towards White Elephant Café, known for its driftwood decor, gorgeous ocean views and delicious fish and chips.
Remembering those lost at the Dome of Souls in Geraldton
High on Mount Scott in Geraldton, where the wind never quite stops whispering, 645 breathtaking silver gulls take flight on the breathtakingly beautiful Dome of Souls sculpture.
Cast in stainless steel, it’s the central piece of art in the HMAS Sydney II Memorial, with each bird representing a soul lost when the ship vanished off the coast of Western Australia in November 1941. The seven pillars holding up the dome represent each state and territory in Australia.
Further along, a bronze woman stands, staring out into the Indian Ocean. The Waiting Woman has her eyes fixed on the horizon – waiting for, and grieving a lost father, husband, brother or son.
The bronze woman represents the pain of the many losses, and also holds the the hope that the ship will be found, so that this tragic chapter in Australian history can be closed.
The lone figure is also a heartbreaking reminder of those who gave their lives to make Australia a place where we can live freely today. It’s a place that you can stay a while, admiring the ocean views and contemplating what came before us.
That’s the beauty of art. It makes you think about the world around you.
If you enjoyed this story on the six sculpture walks of WA, you might enjoy our story on Coastal walks of WA
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