yarra precinctriver arts walk SOUTHGATE CONTINUED Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au SOUTHGATE YARRA RIVER PRECINCT ARTS WALK SOUTHGATE Start at Southgate, the dining and retail complex Melbourne is a city crammed full of art: on the banks of the Yarra in Southbank. Opened traditional and contemporary; static and in 1992, this three-level dining and retail venue living. The Yarra River Precinct is the hub was designed from the outset to feature local of Melbourne’s artistic and cultural scene. artists’ interpretation of Melbourne. Probably nowhere in the world is there such Southgate is currently undergoing a $26 million a concentration of high quality visual and redevelopment which will provide enhanced performing arts venues, quite apart from a very areas for visitors to dine, shop and explore the generous sprinkling of public art and exciting centre while taking in its breathtaking city views. architecture on display. During the period of works, some artworks The short walk can take anything from 90 may be relocated to other areas of the centre, minutes to a whole day, depending on how much or taken into storage while construction works time you want to spend at each venue. In fact, take place. The following details are therefore for the arts lover, it could provide an entire week subject to change. For further information on of enjoyment and stimulation. the location of artworks at the time of your visit, please contact Southgate on 03 9686 1000. The time indicators on the map page show the approximate walking distance between each section of the route. Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au SOUTHGATE SOUTHGATE CONTINUED SOUTHGATE CONTINUED At the main entrance to Southgate, be greeted Take a lift up to the mid and upper levels of by ‘Ophelia’, a sculpture consisting of mosaic Southgate to view the corresponding walls that tiles, by celebrated artist Deborah Halpern. are home to Elizabeth Gower’s ‘Just Looking’ Deborah usually begins her mosaic work with and Margarita Krivitsky’s ‘Unexpected Harmony’, sketches, although not all pieces are planned. also acrylic paintings on board. Next, the figure is created from steel mesh and On the upper level mall, visit ‘Maggie’, a sprayed with expanding foam. Deborah then sculpture made from ciment findu – a type of carves the shape of her piece and covers it calcium aluminate cement – by acclaimed artist with a fibro-glass skin. Finally, ceramic tiles are Peter Corlett. Another well known piece by adhered to the skin to create the mosaic Peter Corlett is the ‘Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop’ sculpture. All Deborah’s pieces are decorated statue in St Kilda Road, opposite the Arts Centre. with a “big face.” This is her signature and it gives her artworks life and emotion. Proceeding down the stairs from the upper to mid-levels, look out for the sculptural gates Also on the River Level of Southgate is ‘Forbidden Areas’ by Maurice Hughes. Des Norman’s ‘Victorian Melbourne’, a representation of the decorative features on Looking left towards the Yarra River and sitting Victorian terrace houses affixed to a wall next upon her own balcony is Loretta Quinn’s to the public lifts. sculpture, ‘Crossing the First Threshold’. Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au ARTS PRECINCT SOUTHGATE SOUTHGATE CONTINUED ARTS PRECINCT There is a sense of ‘folk religion’ in much of her Stay on the top level of Southgate and head art, and whether the symbols derive from the east towards Princes Bridge to enter the hub of mystery of a Latin mass or the animist universe, Melbourne’s arts precinct, comprising the Arts a Celtic myth or a Japanese garden, she says they Centre’s Hamer Hall (1982) and the lattice- are ‘visual references to which others will relate’. spired Theatres (1984), and the National Gallery of Victoria International (1968). Fittingly, they At the eastern end of the Southgate complex, were built on the site of Melbourne’s early on the river promenade, is the imposing circus and entertainment site. Some of the tubular sculpture ‘Dervish 1981’ by acclaimed construction called upon feats of engineering Australian-American artist Clement Meadmore to enable the buildings to withstand the (1925-2005). notoriously unstable and corrosive silt of the ancient river bed. Immediately behind the Southgate complex is St John’s Lutheran Church, a beautiful modern Hamer Hall is a premier concert venue structure with Byzantine overtones, designed (currently undergoing extensive refurbishment). by David Cole and built in 1991. It’s open during The Theatres houses the State Theatre and the office hours for inspection and contemplation. smaller Playhouse and Fairfax Studio, as well as A regular series of classical concerts are held Gallery 1. There is free entry to the public areas throughout the year in the church. of the Arts Centre buildings and the foyers of Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au ARTS PRECINCT ARTS PRECINCT CONTINUED ARTS PRECINCT CONTINUED the Theatres building include an extensive Gallery’s International collection, which is array of visual art, sculpture and tapestries. regarded as one of the finest in the country. Guided tours (fees apply) are held Monday to Saturday at 11am, and a back stage facilities tour NGV International is open 10am-5pm, but can be undertaken at 12.15pm on Sundays. closed on Tuesdays. There is free admission, The public spaces around the Arts Centre although charges apply to some temporary buildings include several significant sculptures. exhibitions. For Arts Centre programming, visit www. The third component of the Arts Centre, the theartscentre.com.au. Sidney Myer Music Bowl, can be found across Sitting on the lawn between Hamer Hall and St Kilda Road in the Kings Domain. Melbourne’s the Theatres building is Berlin-born, Melbourne beloved ‘Bowl’ was built in 1959 as an elegant artist Inge King’s ‘Forward Surge’. She creates outdoor concert venue and was extensively innovative, beautiful and exciting sculptures in refurbished in 2001. bronze, steel and stainless steel. This welded SOUTHBANK 6.35mm steel sculpture was installed in 1981. Cross at the lights on St Kilda Road – just beyond The National Gallery of Victoria on St Kilda the National Gallery of Victoria – and you will Road (NGV International) is the home of the encounter the Victorian College of the Arts. Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au SOUTHBANK SOUTHBANK SOUTHBANK CONTINUED VCA is a faculty of the University of Melbourne. Southbank Boulevard runs between the National Established in 1972, it is one of Australia’s major Gallery and the VCA. It’s the location for education and training grounds for our future Melbourne’s newest arts venues: the Melbourne performing and visual artists, as well as arts Theatre Company’s Sumner Theatre and the industry technicians. Melbourne Recital Centre which are enclosed within a distinctive lattice of white tubular steel. The VCA provides a wonderful opportunity to see exhibitions, drama, dance, puppetry and The Melbourne Recital Centre features a wide music performances by Melbourne’s emerg- range of concerts, held in both its showpiece ing artists. They study in this veritable village Elizabeth Murdoch Hall and in its smaller Studio. of buildings, theatres and gallery spaces, spread Details can be found at www.melbournerecital. over a full city block. com.au. The Sumner Theatre program can be found at www.mtc.com.au. Most of the complex is not open to the public for casual wandering, but the Margaret Lawrence Across the road from the Recital Centre, on the Gallery in Grant Street is a free gallery space corner of Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street, open most days. You can also access details of is the ABC Southbank studios and nearby on the the many low cost concerts and plays staged at corner of Sturt and Kavanagh Streets is the The the VCA by visiting www.vca.unimelb.edu.au. Australian Ballet Centre (both are not open to the general public). Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au SOUTHBANK YARRA PROMENADE SOUTHBANK CONTINUED YARRA PROMENADE CONTINUED Turn left into Sturt Street and walk about 500 The 24 carat gold-capped tower represents metres to visit the Australian Centre for the wealth of the 19th century goldfields, upon Contemporary Art (ACCA) (free entry) and, which Melbourne’s prosperity was first based. next door to it, the CUB Malthouse Theatre. The slash of red on the gold signifies the blood The CUB Malthouse building was built in 1892 let at the 1854 Eureka uprising on the Ballarat as a brewery and malting house. Its program goldfields. The giant golden bees adorning the details can be found at www.malthousetheatre. river side of the building’s lower floors depict com.au. The distinctive exterior and interiors of the enterprise and human energy inside the ACCA is a past major winner in the Australian landmark building. In the forecourt of Eureka Architectural Awards. The forecourt features Tower you will see a rock sculpture ‘No One ‘The Vault’ by Ron Robertson-Swan, which, after Man’s Land’ by David Long (2009). It represents several locations and controversy, has found an mankind struggling to support and grapple with appropriate permanent home at ACCA. a challenging eco system. YARRA PROMENADE Now, walk to the river and you will pass the metal sculpture next to the Esso building, Retrace your steps back along Sturt Street ‘Shearwater’ by Inge King. It reflects the and Southbank Boulevard to rejoin the Yarra’s Australian landscape, with shifting patterns of Southbank Promenade at the Eureka Tower. light and shade thrown by natural vegetation. Map: Visualvoice www.visualvoice.com.au YARRA PROMENADE YARRA PROMENADE CONTINUED YARRA PROMENADE CONTINUED Walk westwards along the Promenade. The 40-60,000 years; the oldest continuous culture polished flat stone sculpture on the grass is in the world.