New Public Artwork Approved Celebrating Dorrigo’s Natural Beauty

A new piece of public art for Dorrigo will soon be realised after Council approved the installation and associated costs of the sculpture in the July Ordinary Council Meeting. 

The artwork, a stainless steel and copper representation of the unique Dorrigo Waratah, has been commissioned by a local philanthropist and designed by local artist Sandra Pitkin.  

The 2.5 metre tall sculpture has an outer triangular frame made of stainless steel providing strength and durability. The sculpture represents the mountains, with curving lines referencing the rivers, waterfalls and hills of the Dorrigo plateau. 

Named Protection, the outer structure protects the Waratah flowers within, which are made from copper, a metal which reacts to the environment and will change over time. 

Bellingen Shire Council was asked to assist with installation and maintenance costs, estimated at $8300 for initial installation, and around $1000 per year in maintenance costs. 

The proposal was first bought to Council by the artist in 2022, who said she had been commissioned by a philanthropist to create a public artwork for the township of Dorrigo, and asking for Council’s consent. 

Since then, Council has worked with the artist and the commissioning philanthropist to discuss the best location for the artwork, deciding on the triangular piece of land between Vine Street and Hickory Street. Due to the proposed location, approval from the NSW State Government was obtained. 

It was important to Council that the Dorrigo community be broadly in favour of the public artwork, with the artist undertaking engagement with the community over the past two years, receiving more than 300 responses, nearly all positive, to her concept. 

In her address to Council at Wednesday's meeting, the artist said that the most common question she receives is, “when is it going to happen?” 

With Council's unanimous endorsement for the project, the community can expect to see the artwork installed in the next 12 months, with the artist to progress work on the sculpture as soon as possible.