August 8th, 2022Aboriginal art celebration

Locals and visitors will be welcomed by Aboriginal art celebrating a sense of Wadawurrung Country when they visit the new Portarlington Pier on the Bellarine Peninsula – which is now officially open.

Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne and Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville has announced the original artwork and works to upgrade the pier have been completed, with a ceremony to be held next month to mark the occasion.

The artwork – which spans over 120 metres – has been created by the Traditional Owners, the Wadawurrung people, and displayed along a new covered walkway constructed from the foreshore to the ferry terminal.

More than 100 Wadawurrung families contributed to the artwork – with hand-drawn illustrations etched into the structure’s specialised marine glass and metal panels to tell the stories of place, water and journey.

The artwork complements the coastal landscape and culturally significant local marine species including sea snails, fish, molluscs, and crustaceans, imparting valuable knowledge of the area’s traditional use over tens of thousands of years.

Portarlington Harbour is an important focal point for the Bellarine Peninsula, providing significant economic and recreational benefits.

The $9.6 million upgrade to the pier saw major improvements take place – including a new, strengthened pier head to enable vehicle access for the aquaculture industry and emergency response crews. A new accessible low landing and rock groyne has also been installed to improve access to the water and protect harbour berths.

More information about the upgrade can be found online at: www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects.