Rediscover the Great Victorian Rail Trail

The Great Victorian Rail Trail runs from Tallarook to Mansfield in Victoria’s High Country, with a branch line to Alexandra. This easily accessible, varied and unique rail trail offers close proximity to heritage classified rivers, majestic valleys, lakes and mountains.

Whatever your ability, at 134 km the trail has options for everyone – from a short walk or ride, to a multi-day adventure, with plenty to see and do along the way.

Explore a journey of artistic discovery through beautiful Taungurung Country

In May last year, Art on the Great Victorian Rail Trail was officially opened, with seven large-scale artworks and a series of smaller works placed along the length of the trail.

Taking inspiration from the theme of ‘connections’, eight artists have created pieces based on connection to Country, connection to the local environment, connection to the history of the trail and connection to community.

One of the artists Tai Snaith produced Memory Palace 1 & 2, located on the trail between Yarck and Merton (Site E). Inspired by the psychological process of Memory Palaces or Method of Loci, a method of recalling physical markers in a space to remember information and create meaning, and are designed to interact with.

As a child, Tai rode many trails on her horse and often created rituals around different markers in the landscape. She also saw faces in the trees, stones, hills and clouds, which she believes is a form of understanding or having empathy for the land or country.

The two works are designed to be interacted with. Rub the nose for good luck, place a gumnut offering on the tongue and make a wish, or toss a stone into the hat if you are on horseback.

“When considering who would benefit from and ‘use’ my work, I realised it was equally important that the sculpture served the local animals. Many species from micro bats have been found in the area and are known to nest in drystone walls. I purposely left hollows behind the eye holes to serve as nesting spaces for swallows and sugar gliders (also found on site). The bowl in the top is a water source for all, including insects – important pollinators and the food source of many mammals and marsupials. I can’t wait to see who moves in!” said Tai soon after the pieces were installed.

You really need to get out on the trail to experience the full scale and impact behind the art installations and the stories behind the making of them, but here’s a short description of the other artworks to get you inspired.

Nook by Donna Marcus (Site A)

‘Things is crook in Tallarook’, an Australian colloquialism, speaks to a time when ‘making-do’ with great ingenuity and resourcefulness was a necessity. Inspired by the making of cotton-reel bush furniture, fabricated ‘bowls’ are joined to shape the sentinel forms.

Traces by Yu-Fang Chi (Site B)

Traces explores the forms of native plants, flora, and the environmental impact on this land. Inspired by the impression of natural elements and local plants, the work responds to the simple, organic shape of a seed as the key, to reveal the idea of growing and transition.

Mirnong by Christabel Wigley (Site C)

For thousands of years the Kulin Women used cool fire and aeration of the soil to grow Mirnong (Yam Daisy) and other useful plants. This trio of structures acts as carriers for lost stories, knowledge and shared languages.

Soul Train by Louise Paramor (Site D)

Soul Train is suggestive of the engine car of a steam train and hints at the growth of industry and agriculture. It is designed to celebrate the rail history of the area in the form of a surprising and colourful folly. 

Remnant by Cara Johnson (Site F)

An iron tracing of a branch from a drowned tree, found washed up on the shoreline of Lake Eildon. In time the trees still standing in the lake will be consumed by the water, but this iron tracing will remain. Its hollowness holding a memory of what was here.

Responding by Robbie Rowlands (Site G)

Responding consists of a 39m mobile phone tower that gracefully arches over the trail. In their usual display, phone towers sit at heights well above the landscape or our built environments. Here, the tower appears animated, falling close to the ground as if bowing to meet us.

We Scar Many Trees (Sites T)

The Taungurung people have been removing bark from trees to use for various purposes for at least 2000 generations. The scar tree carvings symbolise the Taungurung relationship to Warring (Goulburn River) and its associated rivers, creeks and Ngarrak (Mountains).

For more information on the Great Victorian Rail Trail, including accommodation options, transportation services and things to see and do along and surrounding the trail, visit www.greatvictorianrailtrail.com.au