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In my previous Five Photos post, I shared some of the local history and stories that make Goondiwindi unique. On this visit, another side of the town stood out just as strongly: its public art. From sandstone sculptures beside the Macintyre River to bold murals tucked into Bowen Lane, I found artworks that added colour, texture and personality to the streetscape.

Just across the road from the Old Customs House Museum, next to the Macintyre River, stand three sandstone pillars. Designed and sculpted by Chris McKenzie for the Centenary of Federation in 2001, each pillar is topped with a carved waterbird—a heron, ibis and spoonbill. Their middle sections feature flowing river, rain and crop lines, echoing the close relationship between Goondiwindi and the Macintyre. The Pillars are a thoughtful tribute to the river and to the natural life it sustains.

The next three photos were taken in Bowen Lane, part of a project by Lanescape Goondiwindi. Since launching in 2018, Lanescape Goondiwindi has been transforming small lanes and public spaces into a growing art trail, with works by visiting artists, local schools and community groups. It is an imaginative initiative that helps foster community connection through arts and culture.

The bright mural on a shipping container in Bowen Lane was impossible to miss. Created by artist Kate Owen, Coexist explores the idea of reinventing oneself while still remembering where we come from. Its bold colour and prominent placement make it one of those works that immediately draws you in.

Further along Bowen Lane, Under One Big Sky caught my eye with its sweeping colour and abstract detail. Created by Ian Tremewen, the work draws on patterns of crops in the fields, the intense colours of local flora, textures from along the Macintyre River and the shapes and shadows of the expansive sky. The more I looked, the more details seemed to emerge.

Another standout piece in the Bowen Lane streetscape is Synchrony. With its lively shapes, bright colour and stylised mechanical forms, it has a strong sense of movement. I also liked knowing that it reflects the collaborative efforts of nearly 80 students from Goondiwindi State High School, which gives it an added sense of local energy and connection.

Along the banks of the Macintyre River, more public art awaits.

Goondiwindi is renowned for its fishing, and the sculpture above, Macintyre Cod Fossil, speaks directly to that local identity. Created by Angus Wilson from old agricultural parts and ephemera, it depicts the fossilised skeleton of a Murray cod found in the Macintyre River. I liked the way discarded farm materials had been reworked into something both playful and historical. Wilson’s sculptures can be found in Goondiwindi and further afield, including A Wonderful Bird is the Pelican, visible at the top of this post.

These are just a few of the many public art installations scattered throughout Goondiwindi. For a regional town, the range of work is impressive, and it adds an extra layer of interest to a walk through the streets or along the river. Next time, I would love to explore the Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens for more sculptures and keep an eye out for the town’s impressive water tank art as well.

Have you come across any outstanding public art recently?

Photo: A Wonderful Bird is the Pelican by Angus Wilson