Laurel Hill
Two large sculpture installations at Laurel Hill, next to Batlow Road on the Snowy Valleys Way between Batlow and Tumbarumba,
Pilot Hill Arboretum
Three very different sculptures, including one by Batlow local artist Robyn Sweeney, at Pilot Hill Arboretum, among historic plantings of a diverse range of trees dating back to the early 1900s; and
Alpine Ash Walk
Eight sculptures (with more to be added) along the stunning, 1.5km Alpine Ash Walk at Pilot Hill Arboretum
The new Sculpture Forest adds an entirely new dimension to the existing Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, an experience that currently includes 38 sculptures across 150km in the towns of Adelong, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Talbingo, the hamlet of Tooma and the three Tumbarumba region vineyards with cellar doors. Situated on the Snowy Valleys Way, the stunning back road between Sydney and Melbourne, the Sculpture Forest is a wonderful addition to the Snowy Valleys visitor experience, with its celebrated local food, award-winning vineyard cellar doors, cideries, breweries, distilleries, trout fishing and walking and biking trails.
The Sculpture Forest has been developed by Sculpture by the Sea in partnership with Forestry Corporation of NSW and the local community, in response to the Black Summer bushfires of 2019 – 2020, which had a significant impact on the region and included the loss of the much-loved Sugar Pines Walk and Pine Cathedral experience.
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Forest has been funded by the New South Wales Government. Additional funding has been provided by Forestry Corporation of NSW, government and not-for-profit organisations from the Czech Republic and Denmark, and private donations. With thanks to Aqualand, the Principal Sponsor of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi for gifting ‘Folly Interstice’ by Tony Davis for permanent public placement at Laurel Hill.
Everyone is invited to the launch of the Sculpture Forest next to the Sugar Pine seedlings in Bago State Forest, Laurel Hill on Thursday 18 April at 11am followed by a Big Family Picnic at Pilot Hill Arboretum, Bago State Forest from 12.30pm – 4pm.
This is a family day with lots of free activities for your children at Pilot Hill Arboretum among the new sculptures, including music, group drumming sessions, sculpture-making workshops and a sculpture treasure hunt along the Alpine Ash Walk. Bring a picnic or order a picnic in advance from Cafe Nest. A coffee truck and Do it for Batlow sausage sizzle is available for cash sales only due to poor WIFI in the area.
The Sculpture Forest is comprised of 13 new sculptures by Australian, Chinese, Czech, English and Icelandic artists at Laurel Hill, Pilot Hill Arboretum and the Alpine Ash Walk made possible by the NSW Regional Tourism Activation Fund.
This is the start of a Four Day Sculpture, Food & Wine Long Weekend with other free and ticketed events listed below which you are welcome to join.
Sculpture Forest Launch (Free)
11am Sugar Pines, Bago State Forest, Laurel Hill Big Family Picnic (Free activities)
12.30pm at Pilot Hill Arboretum, Bago State Forest. Bring a picnic or enjoy a ‘Do it for Batlow’ sausage sizzle and coffee truck (cash only) with free music and children’s activities. Friday 19 April Meet the Artists Lunch, Courabyra Wines (Ticketed) including Václav Fiala Book Launch
12pm at Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba
Tours of the Sculpture Collection (Free)
10am Adelong Community Services Club
11.45am Batlow at Reedy Creek
1.15pm Laurel Hill followed by Pilot Hill
2pm Unveiling of Václav Fiala sculpture at Pilot Hill Arboretum
4pm Tumbarumba creekscape Fireside Dinner at Café Nest (Ticketed)
5pm at Café Nest, 56 Winton Street, Tumbarumba
Live Outdoor Broadcast on ABC Radio (Free)
10am to midday live from Reedy Creek, Batlow and across NSW hosted by Simon Marnie in conversation with locals. Including a ‘Do it for Batlow’ BBQ with the first 50 bacon and egg sandwiches free. Wine Tasting and Sculpture Viewing
2pm Wine Tasting and Sculpture Viewing with David Handley at Johansen Wines, 90 Black Range Road, Tumbarumba
3.30pm Wine Tasting and Sculpture Viewing with David Handley at Obsession Wines, 110 Allawah Road, Maragle
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail project is jointly funded through the Australia and the NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
