Mon, 23rd Jan, 2017 Sid’s Campground, Northcliffe, WA (Northcliffe Understory & Museum)

6.30am 17.4 degrees – cloudy morning. I worked on my blog then we headed into town. Our mail had arrived already from Jon. Steve put some air back into the tyres. He headed off to get some more bait and I went into the Info Centre to do the 1.2km Understory walk. “Every place (no matter how small) has ‘understories’ – secrets, songs, dreams – that help us connect with the spirit of the place.” The artists spent time in Northcliffe developing ideas for artworks that are ‘site-specific’. A recent commission was done by Kim Perrier of Bridgetown using charcoal, glue & fixtures to make moulds of the local people and depict the trauma of the 2015 bush fire. This one was hanging in the Info Centre.

Outside I started the walk through a sculpture – Symbolic tree form, integrated with a painted frame, representing a ‘window’ into the environment.

Little birds were flittering about in the kangaroo paw. We watched them back at Connolly Flat as they rested on an ‘arm’ to suck out the nectar, bouncing up and down as they did.

Wandered along looking out for the charcoal figures and the other art pieces. Some were lovely, others ‘interesting’ and some, well what can I say – ‘were unusual art’.

You had to keep an eye out for the charcoal pieces as they were tucked into crevices in the trees and up high.

It was a nice walk through trees.

This one is called ‘Bound’ – inside, words were engraved into the timber about feeling the pulse of the forest etc.

Another nice piece of the 5 stone sculptures.

Nearly missed this one, high up in the tree.

‘Australia House’ – is the house stretching out towards the tree or is the tree pushing the house down. Are they supporting each other, or is it a struggle. Happy or sad, they seem to be linked in a relationship – perhaps like us and Nature.

I wonder who posed for this one.

Lots of little people scattered along the track. ‘Layers & Then There is Layers (Forest Folk)’ – figures representing the symbolic association people have developed with the forest landscape, itself an entity built layer on layer over time.

‘Sundew’ – Based on the native sundew flower, this sculpture plays with scale – the small become large. A subtle beauty, easily overlooked become apparent.

‘Written on the Wind’ by a Noongar artist. Two dimensional form, representing the strength and power of the forest, and symbolising the Indigenous links to the region.

Pretty little flowers.

A lovely seat which is a sculpture – ‘Calophylla (seat)’. Carved from Marri, mirroring the leaf shape of the species.

‘Whole, You Were Meant To Be Here’ – suspended halo representing a communion; the result is an energy field, a ring, a nest, a platform.

Another pretty flower. A few birds were flittering around as I walked along too.

‘Ghosts of the Old Growth’ – created with chainsaw and chisel. The faces of the forest watch your every step.

‘The Golden Tree’ – Jarrah, 24 carat gold leaf. Amazing the gold is still there!!

Very interesting but I don’t think Steve would have enjoyed it!! Found him over at the Historical Museum. Northcliffe was the only town specifically built for the Group Settlement Scheme established in 1924. Lots to see and read in the last remaining bush school and teacher’s home.

George Gardner was fascinated with rocks and plants and his rock collection is housed here. Shame they didn’t have the lightning glass on display too.

Next door was a great display of old time items with stories attached to them.

Into the school room.

Then the R & I Bank building.

The lighthouse lens from Point D’Entrecasteaux.

Across the park were lots of old photos in the Federation Display. There was also an assortment of old machinery etc.

Out of town to Gardner Drive and into the Forest Park. George Gardner found this burnt out tree ‘Hollow Butt’ many years ago. There was a photo in the Museum of his combi van backed into it. Now we can only put Steve’s butt in it!!

It’s still growing.

Back to the van for a late lunch. A couple have arrived from Ipswich, Wayne & Tracy so we chatted about camp spots as they had come from Esperance. The rest areas I was looking at are not available due to the road works so will have to rethink our plan. Had a great afternoon chatting then we got onto movies and found they had some series etc on hard drive. Got cold after drinks so we headed back into the van. I downloaded some movies and series from them and gave them what we had so we will be right for a while with all the ones I got at home as well.