In February and March this year the council sought quotes from qualified artists to deliver community engagement, design and installation of a public sculpture at Queen Mary Botanic Gardens.
“The artwork was always intended to be the centrepiece of a new Buddleia Garden that the Queen Mary Botanic Garden Advisory Group was establishing with support from the Friends of the Queen Mary Gardens Committee,” Cr Hyslop said.
“The design brief was developed in collaboration with the advisory group, and the theme of the proposed sculpture was ‘of the natural world, relevant to regional Victoria’.”
Cr Hyslop said the council’s public art working group assessed 23 submissions in consultation with a representative of its public art reference group.
“Ultimately, the tender was awarded to United Make and we are excited to showcase the results to the community,” she said.
The Buddleia Garden was planned as a habitat for butterfly species including yellow admirals, swallowtails, red-spotted jezebels and lesser wanderers, as well as bees, honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds.
Jean and Ellen Reid of the St Arnaud Bible Museum and Butterfly Centre specially bred and donated several buddleias for the garden.
“Congratulations to council’s parks and gardens team, who created the Buddleia Garden and do such a fantastic job keeping all of our green spaces looking amazing,” Cr Hyslop said.
“The botanic gardens is such a wonderful asset for our community and visitors alike.
“Council is pleased to work collaboratively with the gardens’ advisory group and Friends of the Queen Mary Gardens Committee to ensure this beautiful green space in the middle of our town continues to flourish.”
People can visit www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Community/Arts-and-culture/Public-Art/Where-the-Garden-Gathers-Sculpture-St-Arnaud for more information about the project.
The entire September 16, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
