After the removal of 5 dangerous and congested level crossings at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach and the creation of 3 modern train stations – 3 new public artworks have been unveiled to further enhance the station precincts, reflecting the natural beauty and Indigenous heritage of the bayside communities.
We engaged expert art consultants to select the artists before a specially formed Art Steering Committee examined their proposals. The artworks are due to be installed by the middle of 2022.
Edithvale
At Edithvale, the creation story of the black crow passed down by the local Bunurong people has inspired a bold and contemporary mural facing the Nepean Highway by artist Jenna Lee.
The 5 black wings and 4 feathers made from recycled plastic will adorn a station wall to highlight the area’s Indigenous history and the significance of the nearby Edithvale wetlands.
According to the Bunurong creation story, Waa was born with white feathers, but after the crows stole burning coals, their feathers were burnt black in a bushfire.
Lee, a Gulumerridjin (Larrakia) and Wardaman and KarraJarri Saltwater woman of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, worked with the Bunurong Land Council to illustrate and pay homage to the cultural story of the Waa being the spiritual protector of the land, waterways and the community.
Chelsea
Artist James Tapscott has produced a sculptural interpretation of the grasses found growing along the sand dunes at Chelsea Beach to be installed on either side of the new Chelsea pedestrian bridge.
The work Pluma comprises a total of 10 blades of grass with ‘fluffy’ ends and has been designed to reflect the relaxed feel of the area.
Bonbeach
For Bonbeach, a quirky and playful sculpture has been brought to life by artists James and Eleanor Avery to be placed at the end of the arbour near the entrance to Bonbeach Station.
The Bonbeach Bird was inspired by the birdlife of the nearby Edithvale Wetlands and has been imagined with a pop culture twist.
The quiff on the bird’s head references waves, a rolled-up beach towel, and periwinkle shells found in Aboriginal shell middens on nearby clifftops. Shell middens are concentrations of shells, containing evidence of past Indigenous activity.
The black and white colours of the quiff were chosen because of the striped swim caps of the Bonbeach Life Saving Club and the blue colouring of the bird reflects the sea and the beach huts that line the bay.
Artist impressions are indicative only and may be subject to change.
Works are currently underway to put the finishing touches on the station precincts including landscaping, walking and cycle paths and car parking.
Our crews are planting more than 800 trees and 85,000 shrubs, groundcovers and grasses, installing what will become more than 11km of share used path between Edithvale and Frankston and creating safer station carparks with security cameras and more lighting.
The Victorian Government is investing an unprecedented more than $4 billion in the Frankston Line to remove of 20 level crossings and build 13 new stations by 2025, with a total of 85 level crossing removals across Melbourne by 2025 to allow more trains, more often and less crowding on peak services. 57 level crossings have been removed across Melbourne to date.