William Ricketts Sanctuary

Yes, today was another day of exploration and what a fabulous day it turned out to be. My exploration today took me up to Mount Dandenong to the William Ricketts Sanctuary. I have had this attraction on my list to see for a while but never really knew anything about it, except that there were sculptures throughout the bush, but it is so much more than that.

Now owned by Parks Victoria there is no entry fee, but they appreciate any donations. I chose to pay $5.00 for a self-walk audio tour, and am so glad I did. I learnt so much more than what I would have just walking around. Situated in a ferny glade in the Dandenongs, William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place of total beauty and spirituality, due to the 90 plus mystical sculptures positioned through the this idyllic location.

As well as the amazing sculptures the William Ricketts story is extremely interesting. Born in Richmond, Victoria in 1898 William Ricketts was a non trained potter, a jewellery maker and a violinist who settled permanently in stunning Mount Dandenong in 1934. Here he started his major artistic work, creating this amazing spiritual sculpture park.

From 1949 to 1960 he spent a lot of time in Central Australia, living with Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte Aboriginal people, whose traditions and culture inspired his spiritual sculptures. He worked on his sculptures until his death in 1993.

I would really recommend a visit to this attraction and also delving into the William Ricketts story - what an amazingly talented man.

Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is a tourist town and also a fishing port in East Gippland in Victoria. This is once again a town that's population increases dramatically during the holiday season. The normal population is around 4600. I have been to Lakes many times over the last 40 years but this is the first time we have been her in our van "Myrtle". Lakes Entrance is about 320 kms from home so we should be home tomorrow afternoon sometime. So that brings our Aussie Adventure 2 to an end. I will certainly miss travelling but it will be nice to be home for Christmas.

Time to patch up the fishing nets

Along the Esplanade are several of these wooden life size sculptures created by the chainsaw artist John Brady. Originally these trees were memorial Monterey Cypress trees, planted in 1924 to honour the districts servicemen who fell in World War 1. Twenty-six trees were originally planted for each serviceman whose name is commemorated on the memorial stone near the wounded soldiers sculpture.