Deloraine is nested in the lush central north of Tasmania Australia located about a 50 km West from Launceston. Deloraine is located on the land of the traditional owners the Pallittorre People. The town is known for it's vibrant art community and a number of galleries and sculptures decorate the town. The annual Tasmanian craft fair is held there in early November. The Meander River flows through the town which is home to 9 platypus. I was lucky to spot a few platypuses while I was there too.
KremArt is a local street artist who has created a number of murals around Launceston area including a recent mural in Deloraine celebrating the Meander Valley flora and fauna. It was sad to see that a few days after I took these photos some local youths tagged the mural its sad to see this I hope they can repair the damage.
Kooparoona niara Cultural Trail
Kooparoona niara is the local First Nations word for the mountain bluffs that form the northern edge of the Central Highlands plateau in Tasmania. A cultural trail is located around the Meander River. It involved local First nations people and artist including Greg Murray - Community pathway planner/Colony 47 - Project Initiator/Bush Tucker Consultant, Martin Hay - Community pathway planner/Colony 47 - Bush Tucker Coordinator, Niecy Brown - Project Consultant and Local Mosaic Artist Aunty Dawn Blazely - Aboriginal Artwork Designer and Hank Horton - Project Cultural Advisor and Signage Contributor. You can read more about the trail here.
Mosaic Wall near Emu Road Bridge featuring local fauna and flora. A community collaboration with Aboriginal Elder Aunty Dawn Blazeley and local artist Niecy Brown
Community collaboration mosaic mural with Aboriginal Elder Aunty Dawn Blazeley and local artist Niecy Brown featuring platypus
River spirits Mosaic mural outside local swimming pool a community collaboration with Aboriginal Elder Aunty Dawn Blazeley and local artist Niecy Brown
River spirits Mosaic mural a community collaboration with Aboriginal Elder Aunty Dawn Blazeley and local artist Niecy Brown
Yarning Circle
Rufous hare-Wallaby (Tasmanian pademelon)
I think this is a wombat but it also looks a bit like Tassie devil
Platypus sculpture
Mutton bird sculpture sadly only feet left
Wren sculpture in pine tree
Deloraine River Sculptures
There are a selection of sculptures around the Meander River in Deloraine.
Mountain Man by Tony Woodward
Mollusc by Jamieson Miller
High and Dry by Wayne Z Hudson
Divison of One by Robbie Rowlands
Divison of One by Robbie Rowlands
Constellation by Trevor Rodwell and Sue Rodwell
Camber Cliff Burtt
Camber Cliff Burtt
Seed by Ian Bonde
Budding Stone by Helmut Schwabe near Deloraine Community Complex centre
Budding Stone by Helmut Schwabe near Deloraine Community Complex centre
Great Western Tiers Sculptures
A selection of sculptures are placed around the street of Deloraine. There is a few but I included my favourites. You can learn more about the sculptures here.
Fabulous Furred and Feathered Friends by Julia Hawthorne
Fabulous Furred and Feathered Friends by Julia Hawthorne
Time for a Coffee, Time for a Chat by Annie Robinson
Exploring the Western Tiers by Christine Norton
Guitar Man by Maggie Johnson 2002
Peta Horton Aboriginal Girl by Darlene Mansell
Tree Protector by Rod Swan 2002
Deloraine Belle by Rebecca Rowe
Peace Man! by Kim Clark
Place Your Bets by Suz Haywood and Tricia Ashtor
Suit of Honour by Tim Whiteley
Suit of Honour by Tim Whiteley
Jimmy Possum by Paul Noordanus
Farmer and Dog by Susan Haywood
Balance by Pip Stanley
Postie by Paul Noordanus
Jimmy Possum
Jimmy Possum was said to be a local legend of a man who lived in a tree and made chairs out of wood. He traded some of his furniture for board in farms during the winter. A selectiom of his style chairs are on display in the folk museum in Deloraine. Read more about him here.
Deloraine Community House
A beautiful mural is found at the Deloraine Community House that includes mosaic, it was created by year 8 students from Deloraine High 2017. A cow sculpture decorated with Deloraine flora and fauna and local scenes.
Showground Murals
Located along Highland Lakes Road is the Deloraine Showground she hosts the monthly markets. A collection of murals are painted on the sheds featuring farm scenes.
Jack the Ripper Exhibition
An impressive Jack the Ripper Exhibition is within the Steampunk and Goth shop along the main street of Deloraine. One of the owners is a relative of a Policeman who worked at Whitechapel during the times of Jack the Ripper.
Yarns Silk Exhibition
A visit to Deloraine isn't complete unless you visit the stunning Yarns artwork in silk exhibition at the visitor centre. The artworks feature four seasons inspired silk artworks of Summer, Spring, Autumn and winter. They feature scenes from the town and local flora and fauna.
Flora and Fauna Winter Panel
Autumn Panel
Close up of detail platypus
Close up of Tasmania tigers
Spring panel
Autumn Panel detail
Summer Panel
Empire Hotel Murals
Outside the Empire Hotel, are a series of bright colourful murals along the barriers, they remind me of Ken Done's style being bright and colourful. Th murals feature local scenes including the Quaffy Bluff, Great Western Tiers, platypuses, local bridge, farm scape, ducks and cherry blossoms. The Empire Hotel also offers free platypus tours.
Deloraine Train Park
A lovely old steam train is located with the Deloraine Train Park its a beautiful location besides the river.
Lions lookout
A lovely lookout point that shows the Great Western Tiers and a picnic table.
Discover Deloraine Mural
As you enter Deloraine from the Devonport side (coming from Devonport) a lovely character mural featuring local fauna and local scenes and places are featured on the mural.
Transport
There is a daily bus between Devonport and Launceston check out this link here. But I went with a tour company Discover Tasmania Tours. I highly recommend them and they are reliable and offer a range of tours around Tasmania. Check out their website here.
Final Thoughts
Deloraine was one of my favourite places to visit so far due to the fact I saw so many platypuses and so up close. The town is charming and the locals friendly. The walk around the river is lovely. The Deloraine Town cafe has a delicious scallop pie too that has been the best I have had.
Invermay
Invermay is a town just North East of Deloraine, I visited that to see the mural they have on the coffee cargo building called Flick the Bean a local coffee spot located at 30 Goderich Street. The mural features native animals to Tasmania.
Big Tassie Tiger
Located within the Herriatage Forest Reserve of Invermay is a great Tassie Tiger sculpture within the playground there.
Wow that is a huge post. I love all the sculptures there. Lovely murals, the KremArt one is my fav. Good you visited those exhibitions too. And that is great you got to see platypus in Meander River <3
Wow that is a huge post. I love all the sculptures there. Lovely murals, the KremArt one is my fav. Good you visited those exhibitions too. And that is great you got to see platypus in Meander River <3
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, yeah was such a beautiful mural
ReplyDelete