William Ricketts was an incredibly talented sculptor who settled on Mount Dandenong in 1934. He felt a strong connection with and love for Australian aboriginal people, and expressed that love in his art. Over fifty years he worked to transform his property into an amazing sculpture park, with works placed alongside paths that wind through the trees and shrubbery. The property was bought by the state in the 1960's and made a public park (although Ricketts continued to live there until his death in 1993).
On the say we went it was partly cloudy and fairly cool (not much about 10 C). It seemed to us to be the perfect kind of day to go - the cool, damp air added to the feeling of spirituality. I'm sure that the sanctuary is lovely on a sunny day, but winter does seem to be the perfect season to go. I think it would be even lovelier to visit in the rain!
Paths paved with bitumen and flat rocks wind through the trees, bordered with moss-covered rocks. The park employees keep the leaves and tree litter swept up (Stephen observed that they'd have to be sweeping it every day to keep it so tidy). I was a little wary of the stoney sections of path, but found that although the rocks looked slippery, they weren't (again, I expect that's due to the careful attention of the park attendants).
The sculptures look as if they've grown straight up out of the rocks. Looking at them, I thought they were stone, and was very surprised to learn that they are actually made of clay that has been molded and fit into the rocks.
There are quite a few animals included, possums, dingos, wallabies - but most of the figures are human, and most male. Some are children, some adults of varying ages. All have beautiful, placid faces and remarkably life-like eyes; you really expect them to speak.
Well, yes, of course they DO speak. They speak straight into your soul.
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