If you hadn’t read the signs before setting out on a 1.2km walk into the bush north of Coonabarabran, the last thing you’d expect to find would be a wonderful series of colourful sculptures strategically placed at intervals along the trail.
The well prepared walking track here in the centre of the Pilliga Forest in NSW sets out from a carpark which is accessed via gravel roads (well signposted), either off the Newell Highway (approximately 30km) or from Baradine (approximately 33km).
As you stroll along this relatively easy trail which follows the escarpment high above Dandry Gorge, a series of five different sculpture sites are found set up with delightful views over the gorge landscape.
Going back thousands of years the area here at Pilliga, the largest forest in New South Wales west of the Great Divide, has significant cultural significance for the local Gamilaroi Aboriginal people. The area, in fact, has many sites where ancient artwork, grinding stones, cave shelters and artefacts have been identified.
To help recognise its importance and to bring an artistic and cultural aspect to the Dandry Gorge historic site, five renowned artists were commissioned to design and create sculptures that would both enhance the natural beauty of the gorge and provide an ongoing record of the site’s significance to its early Aboriginal occupants. Importantly also, the sculptors involved worked with local Gamilaroi elders to ensure what was to be created by these talented artisans would closely reflect the views, beliefs and cultural stories of the area.
Included amongst the diverse range of wonderfully created sculptures is a colourfully prepared story in stone of the local Rainbow Serpent (who created the gorge) that still not only lives in the local streams, but also in underground springs, and all the while the stars of the Milky Way watch from overhead.
There is also a lovely human sculpture made in bronze – a father with a young child on his shoulders. The depiction here, entitled the ‘First Lesson’ (seen left), shows the father pointing down into the gorge, teaching his son about their campsite and the importance of the hunting ground below.
Along the way are the striking forms of two tall figures (three and a half metre high) – clearly ‘spirit figures’ with no arms or any other features, standing on the edge of the gorge overlooking all that goes on below. Also at this site is a series of upright and twisted hunting sticks – look closely at the sticks to pick up more on the Aboriginal story here. All of these works have been created in a striking silver colour of stainless steel.
In Aboriginal life, stone axes were an important part of daily life, but to come across two huge axe heads standing on the pathway is just another of the very special surprises to find along the way.
The final set of sculptures and most recently created (May 2012) and titled ‘Respect Mother’ are designed to describe how women in the Pilliga have used the natural resources of the bush. These splendid, very colourful creations are some of the best mosaic pieces you’ll find anywhere – brilliant indeed!
Wood carvings form some of the sculptures
Clearly, the ‘Sculptures in the Scrub’ is a great place to visit, not only for the sculptures themselves, but for the stories, the history, cultural heritage of the land and its people they describe.
The 1.2 km sculptures walk trail along the top of the gorge to the art works finishes at the mosaic exhibit and visitors have the option of returning along the same trail, or to follow the pathway down into the gorge on a 3km loop trail along Dandry Creek, back to the carpark. This trail extension is also quite an interesting experience with some coloured cliffs, dramatic sandstone outcrops as well as some culturally significant art and axe grinding grooves sites and cave shelters to be seen along the way.
Back adjacent to the day use carpark there is a picnic area with toilets, shelters, tables and chairs, free barbecues, untreated tank water and a series of bush campsites.
