20 years of work will finally be realised with the official unveiling of four major public space upgrades including ‘Constellations of the South’ on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June.
Mayor of Uralla Shire Council, Mr Robert Bell, will officially cut the ribbon on the much-anticipated completion of the ‘Constellations of the South’ art installation at The Glen and the adjacent Rotary Park rest area, with Professor Fred Watson AM, ‘Astronomer-at-Large’ the notable invited guest.
Together with the opening of the Fibonacci installation upgrade to Pioneer Park in the heart of the town, progress of which has been keenly watched by locals and travellers alike, Uralla will be a place of significance on the tourist map.
“The opening of our new public spaces is a historic day for Uralla.”
“Collectively they raise Uralla’s profile as a visitor destination, create new spaces for locals to gather, preserve our town’s historic architecture, and enhance amenities for travellers. We expect they will have far reaching social, cultural and economic benefits for our region,” said Mayor Bell
‘Constellations of the South’, a series of large-scale sculptures at The Glen on the northern entrance to Uralla, was conceptualised in 2004. The brain-child of local artist, Carl Merten, with amateur astronomer (the late) Charlie Rudd and Uralla Arts Council, this precisely engineered installation has been a nationwide collaboration with sculptors from across Australia invited to make representations of the constellations visible in Uralla’s night sky.
Mayor Robert Bell said “The opening of Constellations of the South is the culmination of more than 20-years of community collaboration, drawing on skills of our local sculptors, artisans, construction and landscaping teams.”
“We expect it to become a major tourist drawcard for our region.”
As part of the official opening of ‘Constellations of the South’, which coincides with the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year), Uralla Shire Council has planned a free family stargazing event. Professor Fred Watson will be on site for the evening event to answer all the questions and perhaps pose some mind-blowing questions of his own.
Professor Watson is appointed by Department of Industry, Science and Resources to help popularise astronomy and make space science better understood through radio, TV, podcasts, books, articles, shows and events such as the opening of the ‘Constellations of the South’ installation in Uralla.
The family-friendly stargazing event will provide an opportunity for all ages to get hands-on with giant telescopes, join a laser guided tour of the stars, and even snap a selfie with the moon. Music and a light show will bring an ambiance of mystery to the event, with hot drinks available to help keep the winter chills at bay.
Local café and Trivia hotspot, The Alternate Root, has joined in the astronomical theme with a Space Trivia night. A shuttle bus has been organised to travel between the Alternate Root and the Constellations stargazing event. Bookings for the Trivia night can be made directly through the Alternate Root.
Rotary Park, adjacent to the ‘Constellations of the South’ instalment at The Glen, has also undergone a significant upgrade. This popular rest area now boasts high-quality amenities including modern bathroom facilities, car and caravan parking, gas barbeques and new tables and seating.
In recognition of a unique mathematical association of the numbers of Uralla’s postcode, 2358, the Fibonacci installation at Pioneer Park provides a modern and functional space. The installation features a spiral pathway incorporating artwork by local children, with locally handmade mosaic tiles creating a spectacular entryway to the park.
“Uralla is the only town in Australia whose postcode, 2358, follows the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. Our community took inspiration from the 13th Century mathematician when reimagining Pioneer Park, which was an underutilised space in the heart of our main street,” said Mayor Bell.
“It’s not only creating a beautiful public space, but also gives our community something our town has never had, a town square style public meeting space where we can come together for celebrations and events.”
The Fibonacci installation also incorporates other unique features including tiered amphitheatre seating which is not only functional, but the smooth curved seating also creates an acoustic “whispering gallery” effect allowing people at either end of the curve to be amplified and can hear each other perfectly.
Uralla’s historic 1885 Courthouse will also feature over this weekend, with an open day on Saturday 22nd June, between 10.00 – 12.30pm. State and Federal Government funding was obtained in 2021 to extensively renovate and refurbish the building which has laid dormant since the 1980’s.
“Because of Uralla’s significance as an early gold mining settlement, it is home to an impressive line-up of historic buildings and architecture. Restoration of the old Uralla Court House is like a crown jewel in our town’s heritage walk. It is not only beautifully preserved for the future, but also creates a new multi-functional space for our community,” Mayor Bell said.
The community open day at the Courthouse will act as a fundraiser for Friends of McMaugh Gardens for Uralla’s community Aged Care facility, with entry by gold coin donation.
Top image: A Constellations of the South sculpture. (Photo: Peak and Tote Photography; supplied)
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