A new public artwork at Pakenham Station will become a dynamic meeting point for locals and visitors.
Nesting in the northern section of the station precinct near Main Street, Meet me at the Pakenham Owl by James and Eleanor Avery is a contemporary sculpture that references the Greater Sooty Owl, a species known to frequent the local area.
"We chose an Owl because of the protected Greater Sooty Owl local to the Cardinia shire, and because of the symbolism attached to an owl as a spiritual guide, a widespread traveller, always returning to its nesting spot," Eleanor said.
Fabricated from laser-cut aluminium and set in concrete, the sculpture will stand 3.2m tall and 2.7m wide. The architectural features of the new Pakenham Station including the V-shaped staircase, bronze finish and curved roof have inspired the sculptures' shape and colour.
Meet me at the Pakenham owl will be installed at Pakenham Station later this month.
The level crossings at Main Street, McGregor Road and Racecourse Road in Pakenham have been removed by building a 2.5km section of elevated rail, and the new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham opened in June 2024.
The new stations feature accessible platforms, car parking and better pedestrian and cycling connections through the precincts.
Work is being carried out on 6 MCGs worth of new open space at Pakenham, which includes a barbecue area, exercise equipment, garden beds, seating, a half basketball court and playground. More than 330,000 trees, shrubs and grasses are being planted in and around the station precincts.
A Changing Places facility will be available for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.
In total 110 level crossings are being removed across Melbourne by 2030, with 84 already gone for good.
