Amazing Forbes Platypus

 I visited the fabulous town of Forbes located in Central West NSW Australia. It is within beautiful Wiradjuri country. In the heart of the town is Lake Forbes which is great for taking a short walk around and admiring the birdlife on the lake such as pelicans.  The Forbes Wiradjuri dreaming centre is a wonderful place to learn about First Nations traditions and outside there is a marvellous mural featuring platypuses, brolga, echidnas, kangaroos and fish. Along Lake Forbes walkway there are lovely sculpture poles with local fauna featuring Wiradjuri language and information on Wiradjuri culture. A beautiful sculpture entitled “Family Matters” is also along the lake it features two First Nations women with child returning from gathering food,  it was created by Brett ‘Mon’ Garling and it celebrates Wiradjuri culture too.

 

Located at the Lake Forbes water park is an amazing mural on the amenities block, it features a platypus, magpies and a yappy promoting the local wildlife found around the area and in the Lachlan river.  The mural was created by Artists Inari Myers and Daniel Mercer inspired by locals from the Forbes Youth Action team.  

 

The platypus gallery is another great place to visit to see and buy local art it is located on Lachlan street.  

 

Below the Newell Highway Bridge that goes over Lake Forbes are beautiful First Nations murals they feature Wiradjuri art of native fauna like platypus, pelicans, spoonbill, snake, frilled neck lizard, monitor lizards, turtles, fish, and emus.

 Public art is a growing movement in Forbes to encourage tourists to the area. Sculptures are placed within the streets of the town and in Albion Park. Larger scale sculptures such as Varanus by Glen Star a 5.5 metres tall and 20 metres in length giant monitor lizard  represents the great significance of the Gugaa (Wiradjuri word for goanna) as a food source and totem in Wiradjuri culture. It is located in the peace and serenity of gum swamp which is a great place for bird watching as there is a bird hide.   

 

 Also as part of sculptures down the Lachlan art trail is the famous Amazing sign although a little kitschy this is a must to see during your stay in Forbes, it is located just a few kilometres outside the town in the Lachlan valley way but it isn’t hard to miss the bright red letters.  Whether you are visiting Forbes for food, art or nature there is a bit of everything for everyone. 

 

Below is more footage of my trip to Forbes.