Eel Trap

A Red Spider?
Fiona Clarke and Ken McKean’s Eel Trap is based on the design of a
traditional Indigenous eel trap. The plate-steel sculpture is painted red and
engraved with Indigenous designs.

A local food source, eels were once
trapped close to this site, near the shallow waterfalls that used to exist
downstream, separating the freshwater of the river from the salty water of
the bay. Eel Trap was commissioned by the City of Melbourne in 2003.

Bath Time

Fancy a dip?
This rather odd looking metal sculpture is at Birrarung Marr down on the Yarra and has the look of an eccentric bath-tub.

In the background are five shields representing the five groups that comprised the Kulin nation. I'll be writing about this at a later date.

Buildings and Rooftops

The spire is that of St. Paul's Cathedral, the mosaic like building is the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), and in the foreground is Artplay which sits in a red brick warehouse - the sole remaining building of the Melbourne rail yards.

Artplay is at Birrarung Marr on the banks of the Yarra River.

William Barak Bridge

The William Barak Bridge is named after William Barak who was a member of the Wurundjeri people. He was a diplomat, negotiator and artist who was a powerful leader and advocate for his people.
The bridge is up to 9 metres wide and 525 metres long and gives lift access to the ground level precinct and the Number 70 tram - and the opportunity to enjoy commanding views of the City; a land bridge which joins Melbourne's CBD with the famous MCG and other nearby sporting venues.

AS you walk along the bridge, you enter a sonic corridor of voice recordings of people from the 53 Commonwealth nations represented in Australia. Central to the work are the voices of the area’s original custodians, the Wurundjeri people. Each person sings a traditional song from his/her background with the voices interwoven to create a continually shifting soundscape. Commissioned for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, it’s an evocative tribute to diversity.The installation includes applied paintwork, 60 grilles, 56 loudspeakers, 4 sensors and 24 channels. Below are close-ups of the artwork from which they can be heard.

Birrarung Marr Footbridge

The Birrarung Marr Footbridge was completed in 2000 and joins the MCG with Birrarung Marr. Crossing the Jolimont railyards and Batman Avenue, it is a bridge of strong perspectives, and is eye-catching with its tall, linear spears and simplicity. Stretching 120 metres in length, you get great views of Melbourne city and see far over the Yarra to the Eureka Tower.

Federation Bells

C'mon, ring dem bells

These beautiful Federation Bells are in the grounds of Birrarung Marr along the Yarra River a short stroll from Federation Square.
There are 80 sets of Federation Handbells totalling 1920 individual bells. Each set covers two octaves and consists of 24 bells contained in four travelling crates. There are 320 crates in total. The total weight of all the bells is 5 tonnes. The total storage area the handbells cover laid flat is 640m2, or a volume of 18m3.

The bells are played from 8-9am, 12.30-1.30pm and 5-6pm daily. Cast in silicon bronze, their design and pitch is unique, and range in size from 120mm high to 180mmhigh and have an average weight of 1kg. The Federation Bells installation was opened by Sir Gustav Nostle on the 26th January 2002. Seven Australian composers wrote 5 minute pieces for the opening.

Listen to the Bells