Windhover

Commissioned by Bayside City Council and located long the Sandringham foreshore 'Windhover', the abstract ribbon-like steel sculpture was created by Lenton Parr, a Sandringham local, in 2001.

Lenton describes 'Windhover' as an abstract sculpture which "for me embodies some spirit of the locality, a suggestion of aspirational ideals and of flight against the wind. The title derives from a well-loved poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)."

Shearwater

Created by German born Australian sculptor Inge King, 'Shearwater' was commissioned in 1994 by Esso Australia and installed 1995 along the Southbank Promenade, Southbank.

The stylised polychrome steel bird was inspired by bird watching during her Northern Territory visits. It was created during the period of time where her technique involved using cut paper and/or balsa wood pieces, and assembling them into an arrangement which was then upscaled into a final design created in cut steel or cast in bronze. 

'Shearwater' has been constructed from cut steel and coated with synthetic polymer in black along with thoughtful touches of primary colours (red and blue) to highlight features.

To me, Inge King has captured the moment when the Australian sea bird is poised with anticipation waiting for the wind to increase so that it can take flight and begin its oceanic gliding journey.

Vault

After winning a competition commissioned by the Melbourne City Council in May 1978, the 'Vault' created by Ron Robertson-Swann, was considered by some to be too modern and unsympathetic for the Melbourne City Square location when it was installed in 1980. With media pressure, the decision was made to move the controversial sculpture to Batman Park. In 2002 it was then moved to the forecourt of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, corner of Grant and Dodds Street, in Southbank.

Flat sheets of prefabricated steel create a kaleidoscope of geometric forms and there is a sense of lightness to its assembly, evoking a paper-like origami shape. The yellow coloured abstract sculpture contrasts boldly against the rusty reddish-brown shades of the AACM building and seems contented with its current home.

Shadow Form III

Bursting through the concrete to unfurl and stand proudly is Robert Juniper's steel representation of nature, Shadow Form III. This sculpture was created in 1988 and is located at 140 Williams Street, Melbourne.

Upon a circular platform, large angular foliage sit atop vertical stems, each contemplating their individual sunlight capturing position. Transient shadows are cast on a sunny day and on a rainy day water cascades from the leaves to pool on the ground. The organic shapes sit comfortably and compliment the contours of the architecture extending upwards behind it.