Winton Wetlands welcomes artistic landmark
12/01/2023The Victorian Government has supported a new permanent outdoor art installation at Winton Wetlands showcasing the work of 15 Yorta Yorta artists.
The new sculpture walk is known by its Indigenous title, Lotjpatj Natjan Danak, which means yarning and gathering pathway and has been supported through the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
A culmination of several years, the 15 sculptures represent totems, practices, special places and stories that honour the living spirit, culture and history of the Yorta Yorta people.
The installation has been a collaboration between Winton Wetlands and the Yorta Yorta community, with each artwork developed by Indigenous artists from across Victoria.
The all-abilities walk across a flat gravel path takes visitors on a 15-minute loop that has been landscaped in the shape of a long-neck turtle, which is the totem of the Yorta Yorta people.
The sculptures express a deep connection to the land and culture of Yorta Yorta ancestors and traditional owners who were the original inhabitants of the resource-rich wetlands for thousands of years.
A variety of traditional and contemporary techniques have been used to create each sculpture in a range of materials, from steel, brass and rubber to salvaged trees, red gum and mosaic tiles.
Steeped in a natural reserve of 8,750 hectares, Winton Wetlands is located 2.5 hours north-east of Melbourne, between the towns of Benalla and Wangaratta.
It is the largest wetlands restoration project in the southern hemisphere, and refuge to 180 native species of birds, fish, frogs, reptiles, bats and plants, including endangered species.
The Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund helps grow and realise the potential of regional Victoria’s visitor economy which attracts more than 14 million domestic and international visitors every year.
For more information, visit Winton Wetlands.