Council is committed to investing in public art and supporting local artists, which is why these artworks have been commissioned as part of the Reddall Reserve master plan. These artworks were created by local artists in collaboration with the community to tell the stories of the lake, its history and its people.

You can walk or cycle the trail to explore local history, Aboriginal heritage and native flora and fauna.

This artwork is based on Gang man gang, a local Dreaming story that tells of the creation of Windang Island and how the Cultural Custodians came to be in the Illawarra. It shows us characters of the story, including Burri Burri (whale) and his mudjari (canoe), Ghoon a ghaan (star fish), Garilwa (koala) and Guradhawak (brolga).

The Burri Burri artwork was developed by Jodi Edwards, a local Yuin Educator and Knowledge Holder, and Theresa Ardler, a Gweagal Dharawal artist and educator, in collaboration with Sculptor Julie Squires. The whale design is based on a drawing by Theresa Ardler. The coolamon seat carvings are based on drawings by local Dharawal artist Nicole Talbott. The sculptures were created in Julie’s studio by shaping the whale and coolamon forms in polystyrene foam and coating them in wax before hand-carving into the surface.

The pieces were then cast into bronze using an industrial sand-casting technique. The whale was cast into 12 pieces before being welded back together. The bluestone boulder base for the whale was sourced at Hanson Quarry. Overall, the fabrication process took eight months. We invite you to sit down on a coolamon and learn more about this culturally significant local story.

The story of Gang man gang remains the intellectual property of the Cultural Custodians from whom the story has been passed from generation to generation. Many thanks to Hanson Group, for their support of this project. Landscaping by Shaw Landscaping. Stonework by Ron Dovern and John De Bortoli.

Burri Burri (humpback whale) have an important role for the Dharawal and Yuin Nations. The Dreaming story of Gang man gang describes how the Dharawal people and local animals came to be in the Illawarra.

The whale’s madjari or nuwi (canoe) helped the animals come from across the sea to land here at Lake Illawarra. More significantly, the belief of the Dharawal and Yuin people is that the whales are our Elders, ones that once walked the land and then they went to sea to protect the fish and food and the medicine of the Gadhu.

Whales of the South Coast are significant as they are the law holders within the sea and they would beach themselves as a sign that our people needed to come together to talk about law, to share or create a new law while many Aboriginal people from the coast were together. The men would spear the whales and turn them on to their backs allowing their spirits to free from their bellies.

Prawn Run pays tribute to the generations of fishermen and women who have trawled Lake Illawarra for centuries for commerce and recreation.

Suspended in flight, the 5 prawns sculpted from aluminium appear to jump right out of the water as they run under a dark tidal moon. 3 to 6 metres high atop steel posts they twist and turn, as they leap ever higher, chasing the moon in a contorting dance. At the highest point of the artwork sits a majestic full moon. It lures the passers-by, paralleling the pull of the tide and its importance to a successful night of fishing.

Beginning as a highly detailed CAD model, each prawn is made from 27 unique laser-cut pieces. The legs and antenna of each prawn are made from 92 pieces of aluminium tube. The entire project took 600 hours and is made from 17t of concrete, 27 sheets of aluminium, 80m of tube and 6999 rivets!

This artwork, designed and fabricated by metal artist Kane Minogue, is inspired by life on Lake Illawarra through time, from its traditional custodianship from the Wadi Wadi people to its recreational focus today.

The artwork uses a ring of 4 m high seaweed intertwined with marine life specific to Lake Illawarra all swimming in an upward circular direction. This design element represents the circle of life within the lake, Synergy and a sense of community.

It’s fabricated from over 3000 recycled metal objects.
Some interesting objects include vintage motorcycle shock absorbers, push bike pedals, bolt cutters, golf clubs, old hand tools and a Harley Davidson rear vision mirror.
Can you find them?
What other objects can you find?

The use of recycled metal objects reflects the artists’ passion for nature and its sustainability. He endeavours for the sculpture to help generate further education, care and respect for Lake Illawarra and the marine life within it.

A beautiful work made from corten steel, representing a shape found in nature. The piece is an aesthetically dramatic framing of Windang Island.

Split was initially featured at Sculptures at Killalea before finding its home in Reddall Reserve.

David Ball is an award-winning artist from the Southern Highlands, who was awarded the Aqualand Sculpture Prize award for his work, Orb, in the Sydney Sculpture by The Sea exhibition.