Swell Sculptures 2025

 17 September

Swell - Queensland's largest sculpture festival delivering high quality art, set amongst a natural landscape. 2025 sees the 23rd Swell event.

Both the Gaiter Girls and the Hungry Hikers were thrilled to be back, having missed visiting last year. The photos in this blog were all taken on my Tuesday visit with the GG's. 

The GG's were on the road by 4.30 to arrive before the 6am sunrise. It was a dream run on the M1 at this hour, arriving  at 5.15. Our reward was to see many of the sculptures in their night colours, as the sky gradually lightened. We spent half an hour admiring them and then settled down with a savoury muffin and a cuppa to watch the sun appear.

The Dung Beettle collecting the detritus of modern living.

On the following day, I returned with the Hungry Hikers. Although the weather wasn't as pleasant, I enjoyed being able to fully focus on each piece during this visit. I had been impressed by the koala sculpture, but had missed the significance of its title and the fact that it was 'woven' with the chain of  many chainsaws.

 

 Having descended the steps from this rock pinnacle [below], we commented that this event was so much smaller than on previous years. We were disappointed, but decided that the eroded beach from Cyclone Alfred in February, had forced this limitation. 

In past years, the Swell sculptures were positioned along the beach and promenade to this point.

We were about to retrace our steps, when I became curious about the new flags flying further along the boardwalk. Thank goodness for my curiosity. Admiring them in their entirety, led us to discover that yes, they were an entry. Then we discovered there were another 30 sculptures not to be missed. A sign a little earlier would have been beneficial for anyone not in the know.

A space to ponder.

Below, top LHS - symbolism of a prawn trawller losing nets to the sea and the resulting harm to our sea creatures.  To me it looks quite beautiful in this setting.

RHS - QR code for the digital sculpture below.

A flock of Cockatoos.

Another stunning one in this setting but acknowledging the hardships and suffering of the boat people.

The Shanty Men celebrating the enduring power of maritime singing.

Their QR code added humour to the visual.

Unbridled Freedom

My favourite by far, but there was tough competition to choose a second best.

Taken by a professional.

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Golden Girraween

August 9 to 11.

Returning to Girraween in winter, I was fully expecting brown vistas. Once we had climbed onto the Great Dividing Range halfway into our journey, we had occasional views of wattle trees. These species were of a dull yellow. Nearing Girraween National Park, the glowing gold varieties abounded. So cheerful and uplifting against the winter hues of the countryside. Three days of stunning gold unfolded.

Along the roadside.

Along the trails.

Around the rock pools.

High on rocky outcrops.

So many species found. [over 1000 species all over Australia.] The Golden Wattle is our floral emblem.

A Golden Wattle image from google. I don't think I saw any of this.

Wattle with tiny blossom.

Wattle with thin leaves.

Wattle with a totally different leaf.

With the flower buds close to the stem.

In the early morning light.

Wattle as far as the eye could see.

Just everywhere.

And here, we see wattle in contrast to the other wildflowers that were beautiful, but not in abundance.

On return from our day 2 morning hike, the sunshine was warm enough to dine on the verandah. Joc and I were in charge of setting the table. Setting complete, we realised that a vase of wattle would set it off perfectly. Guess what, there was not a wattle close by and the one we spotted was extremely tall. We were determined to get its lowest branches pulled down. We used lengths of fallen limbs to hopefully pull the branches down so I could grab them and Joc break off the flowers. So glad noone was there with a video camera. Much laughter, a bit of cursing, a stumble or two and success!

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