Port Phillip public sculpture celebrates First Nations connections to waterways

Water Journeys traces the paths of water and story across time. Conceived by Wurundjeri / Yorta Yorta / Wiradjuri artist and designer Simone Thomson, the five-metre sculpture evokes the elegant profile of traditional stringybark bark canoes — vessels once shaped from carefully removed sheets of bark, bound and sealed with clay and string to travel along rivers, wetlands, and bays.

In this form, the artwork speaks to knowledge passed through generations: navigation by currents and stars, the gathering places along banks and estuaries, and the responsibilities of caring for waterways as living systems.

Our role

WRAP worked closely with the artist to translate her vision into a contemporary public artwork. The project was commissioned by the Port Melbourne Business Authority and made possible through a collective of local retailers via the Creative Australia grants program with support from the City of Port Phillip.

From concept development, technical drawings, engineering, fabrication, and installation, we worked closely with the artist to deliver the final outcome within a tight budget.