Duck Billed Platypus in Dubbo

 

My next adventure took me to the country town of Dubbo located in Tubba-Gah Wiradjuri Country and Central West of Sydney New South Wales Australia.  There was lots of beautiful platypus motifs surrounded around Dubbo so I hit the jackpot when it came to platypus art.  The first location I visited was the stunning L.H Ford Bridge Pylons located under the bridge which can be viewed at Bligh street or Stonehaven avenue along side the Biddybungie Reserve. The murals on the bridge were painted back in 2005 and continued as part of Tafe NSW outreach program funded by Department of Corrective Services which gives talented local artists on community service an opportunity to give back to the community. You can read more about the program here https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/823957/art-bridging-young-lives/ and here https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/846723/a-can-of-paint-and-the-bridge-pylons-look-great/ .  The artworks on the Bridge were painted by local artists Lewis Burns along with Benjamin Ryan, Stephen Russell, Tyrone Weldon, Paul Widders, Guy Naden, Aaron Walford, Don Dixon, Jarrett Walford, Amos Murphy and Owen Edwards. Below are a selection of the murals found on the L.H Ford Bridge (check out the video below for the whole collection of murals). There are also a selection of bridge pylons painted located beside the car park near Dubbo Library and Dubbo Visitor centre.

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on bridge pylon in car park near Dubbo Library and Dubbo Visitor centre.

Mural on bridge pylon in car park near Dubbo Library and Dubbo Visitor centre.

Mural on bridge pylon in car park near Dubbo Library and Dubbo Visitor centre.

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on bridge pylon in car park near Dubbo Library and Dubbo Visitor centre.

 

 

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Mural on LH Ford bridge pylon

Other beautiful murals are decorated around Dubbo. Recently the new Macquarie Home stay fence mural located on the Golden highway (Cobborra Road) just before Yarrandale Road was created by local artists Jack Randell (Fishdog) in collaboration with Lewis Burns, Pietro Dudek, Gill Pedrana and John Murray, school students and community groups. The wonderful mural will greet visitors on their way out and into Dubbo along the Golden Highway.

Other beautiful streetart is located within the swimming centre on Talbragar Street and, Darling Street, it features works by the iconic Mulga and El Studio. Also located within
Talbragar Street and Darling Street is a marvellous mural by Adnate, Dylan Goolagong and Nathan Peckham. It honours the amazing Pearl Gibbs (1901-1983) who was a First Nations activist, and the most prominent female activist within the First Nations movement in the early 20th century. 

Mural by El Studio

Mulga Dubbo Swimming centre mural (2020)

Mulga Dubbo Swimming centre mural (2020)

 

mural by Adnate, Dylan Goolagong and Nathan Peckham featuring quote from Pearl Gibbs (2016)

mural by Adnate, Dylan Goolagong and Nathan Peckham.

Dubbo Taronga Western Plains zoo is well known for its conservation efforts in particular of endangered Rhinos. The zoo features 3 species of Rhino the White Rhino, Black Rhino and the Great one horned rhino. The CBD is also decorated with Rhino statues, the rhinos featured at the Dubbo information centre and Dubbo Airport are modeled off the mother (Bakhita) and calf rhino (Sabi) at Taronga zoo Dubbo. 

Rhino outside Dubbo Square Mall created by Fishdog and school students from Dubbo Public school  titled: Bruno's new clothes (2016)

Rhino's outside Dubbo infromation centre

Bakhita and Sabi at Dubbo zoo

Dubbo zoo features a beautiful mural by Jack Randell (Fish dog), Alan Shillingsworth and graphic arts students from Lincoln School. The mural is titled Biladurang which means Platypus in the Wiradjuri Language. It is located on the toilet block beside the koala exhibit within the Australian native wildlife area.

Dubbo zoo was also a highlight to visit below are some of my fav animals I saw.

Sleepy Dingo

African Wild Dog

Happy Galapagos Tortoise

Baby Spider monkey

Spider Monkey

Black Rhino Mama and baby

Sleepy Hippo

White Rhino

Bongo

Siamang Gibbon

scimitar oryx

Another great place to visit is the Dubbo Regional Botanical gardens located at Coronation Drive. It features a lovely Japanese Garden as well as a sensory, biodiversity and an oasis valley garden. It is great for families as has a playground too. The sensory garden features a beautiful sandstone barking gecko and the oasis valley garden has a sandstone platypus, frog, wombat and lizard. The sculptures were created by Newton Bishop.

 

Gecko

Lizard

Lizard

Wombat

Platypus

Frog

Another must to visit is the Information centre located at the corner of Macquarie Street and Newell Highway. The centre is decorated in amazing murals showcasting the local fauna in the area including the beautiful Malleefowl, regent honey eater, swift parrot, Glossy black cockatoos and sugar glider. The mural was created by local artist Gill Pedrana.

 The Maquarie River flows through Dubbo there are a number of walking tracks around the river that allow you to take in the beauty of nature and unwind and if you're lucky you might spot a Biladurang (Platypus).

Below is a video featuring more footage from my visit to Dubbo.