Public Art

In late 2025, a striking new mural was installed at Lilardia Park in Footscray, honouring the life and legacy of Aunty Margaret (Lilardia) Tucker MBE (Aunty Marge), one of Australia’s earliest female Aboriginal activists.

Thanks to funding from the State Government’s Victorian Women in Public Art Program, and with strong support from the public across Victoria who voted for this project, the mural will stand as a powerful tribute to Aunty Marge’s enduring impact. Produced by BE. Creative, the artwork was brought to life by an all-female Indigenous production team led by Wiradjuri artist Jessi Rebel.

The timing of this project is especially meaningful, with the mural taking shape during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence — a fitting tribute to Aunty Marge’s lifelong work to uplift women and girls through political representation on boards and councils, pioneering social programs (including the first Deb Ball), and the hostel for Aboriginal girls that bears her name.

The artwork at Lilardia Park will serve as a lasting reminder of Aunty Marge's powerful legacy.

Thomas Miller

Organic Reflections, 2025

Digital print on vinyl 

Yarraville Gardens

This new artwork is installed on the Changing Places bathroom in Yarraville Gardens. Working with ArtLife Program, a studio providing artistic and professional development opportunities for artists with disability, Maribyrnong Arts & Culture mentored artist Thomas Miller from inception to delivery.

Thomas Miller is a contemporary surrealist artist, sculptor and illustrator who is inspired by a deep fascination with quantum physics. Miller has a Bachelor of Industrial Design and participated in the ArtLife Program at Footscray Community Arts.

Using an Edwardian colour palette to match the heritage of the park and surrounding nature, Organic Reflections features shapes that resemble organic matter under a microscope, or landscapes from a bird’s eye view, or maybe a futuristic cityscape. Miller encourages the viewer to discover their own world within his world. 

Maddern Square is looking great following the addition of a basketball half-court, skate elements and light boxes artwork by Olana Janfa. 

Mural installation by Artcourts Australia.

Civic Precinct and Community Hub, 61 Napier St, Footscray

Untitled, 2025 by Tommy Day III is an expression of connection to Country, honouring the deep relationships between people, place, and the natural world. Through rich animal iconography and elements drawn from the landscape, it celebrates local wildlife, spirituality, and the traditions that have shaped community. Each symbol becomes a chapter in a larger story, reflecting the ceremonial spaces, ancestral knowledge, and living culture of Maribyrnong. 

Tommy Day III is a Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba man, and a multi-disciplinary artist.

Photograph by Nicole Reed

A valuable sculpture in Council’s Public Art Collection, the Reverend Joseph Hunter Goble memorial statue, which was previously located on the median strip near 74 Geelong Road, Footscray, is being relocated.

The sculpture depicts Reverend Joseph Hunter Goble, the renowned local pastor of the Baptist Church in Footscray (1895 - 1932) who championed the working classes and dedicated his life to acts of charity, visiting the troubled and poor, both churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike. He was so loved by the community that they raised the funds for his life-size statue.

The 1.98 metre tall statue was carved from white Carrara marble by an unknown Italian sculptor and stands on a granite podium flanked by polished pink granite columns fabricated by former local stonemasons Taylor and Sons.

It commemorates Joseph Hunter Goble (1863-1932), renowned Baptist pastor born in Port Fairy, in 1863 but who later moved to Footscray to begin his celebrated pastorship in 1895 which continued until his death in 1932. Goble was a stirring preacher, revered by the local community for his passionate services held in Federation Hall which attracted congregations of over 2000 people.

A keen supporter of the Footscray Football Club, Goble championed the rights of working people and in 1926 became the first president of the Baptist Union of Australia. The cost of a life-size statue dedicated to Reverend Joseph Hunter Goble was raised by public subscription and erected on Geelong Road in 1933 before being relocated from the center to the side of Geelong Road in the late 1950s due to road widening works.

The sculpture was damaged by a vehicle and is being relocated to preserve it into the future. The statue was removed on 18 July and an experienced heritage consultant and stonemason will assist in its relocation in coming months. Council has a duty of care as custodian of its Art and Civic History Collection to conserve the memorial, and the memory of one of its local icons, for future generations.

Welcome to Footscray by Brook Andrew

88 Hopkins St, Footscray

In 2023, Council received State Government investment to deliver a light-based public artwork in the Footscray CBD, as well as to contribute new works to the StreetWORKS program.

The aim was to enliven community spaces, foster creativity, and deter vandalism. Nine murals funded by this partnership can be viewed on the StreetWORKS webpage, and the light-based public artwork commissioned was Welcome to Footscray by Brook Andrew.

The Illuminate Footscray commission artistically revives the façade on 88 Hopkins St, Footscray with a light-based public art commission that reflects the spatial synergy and ever-shifting essence of Footscray’s community. 

Nationally and internationally acclaimed Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal artist, and long-time resident of Footscray, Brook Andrew was selected for the commission. His new public artwork titled Welcome to Footscray acts as a playful and dynamic gateway into the Footscray central business district. This work was funded by a partnership between Maribyrnong City Council and the Victorian State Government.

Andrew writes:

“The coloured lights and shapes enhance an optical black and white pattern and act as a metaphor for the cultural and linguistic diversity of this inspiring place. The changing aspects of this work through day and night is a way-finder for locals and newcomers or visitors who love our Footscray.”

Hopkins Street Bridge, Footscray

Maribyrnong by Geoffrey Bartlett makes a direct connection to the area’s maritime past, whilst communicating through its contemporary aesthetic the area’s new and dynamic future. It draws its inspiration from ship building, navigation and sailing, which boomed in the 1880s along the Maribyrnong River.

For many years Bartlett’s work has referred to latent energy as a central theme. Here, abstracted sails draw energy from the wind, providing its river passage. Maribyrnong mirrors the herringbone patterning on the Boat House development facade, a tribute to timber boat decking.

Positioned as a focal point for residents, pedestrians, and commuters, this artwork can be viewed from various viewing angles, including from Hopkins Street Bridge, Joseph Road, and the Maribyrnong River.

Artist Geoffrey Bartlett, one of Australia’s highly regarded artists, has left a lasting impression on Melbourne's art scene. From his iconic sculpture at the entrance of the National Gallery of Victoria to his major retrospective at McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, Bartlett's work is celebrated and collected both nationally and internationally.

The work was commissioned by the Boat House Public Art Commission initiative, a joint partnership between Council and Blue Earth Group to enrich Footscray’s urban environment by integrating public art into new developments, aligning with Council's Public Art Strategy 2019-2029.

Photo credit: Anna Kiparis

Henry Turner South Reserve Pavilion

Henry Turner South Reserve is home to a public artwork created by Tracey Lamb and fabricated by Sculpture Co. The aptly named piece, Architecture of the Sole, takes its inspiration from the soles of a pair of well-worn sports shoes; and gives consideration to the way people connect to lifestyle, culture and nature.

Lamb's sculptural installation is made up of brightly coloured modular pieces whose rounded abstract shapes are placed in vertical stacks and horizontal seat-like forms in a loosely circular formation echoing the high gloss metal finish designs found on the soles of sports shoes.

Photo credit: Anna Kiparis

Billy Button Children’s Centre, Hyde Street, Footscray

Billy Button Band is a public artwork by Yarraville artists Skunk Control, commissioned for the new Billy Button Children’s Centre. The vibrant artwork was inspired by the distinctive native billy button flower (Craspedia globose) and Billy Button Creek that originally ran through the area.

The artwork’s five individual sculptural forms spans 30 metres along the pathway between the new early learning centre and the Bluestone Church Arts Space. The curved white ‘stems’ extend over, out and above the fence into the air, peeking over into the playground and on to the pathway.

Each ‘head’ of the artwork was individually created from hundreds of floral buds made of transparent polyester inlaid with optical filters to create the densely golden-yellow flowers. Their colourful shadows create a playful interactivity with the sun during the day and then softly illuminate into golden orbs at night.

Image by Jody Haines

Pipedreams by Matthew Harding

Thompson Reserve, Maribyrnong

Commissioned for Pipemakers Park as part of Council’s master plan by renowned Australian public sculptor and designer, Matthew Harding. This striking sculpture is fabricated from 32 kilometres of marine grade stainless steel rod and tube, stands eight metres tall by 12 metres wide and incorporates changing pattern of lights from dusk until midnight. The concept design was inspired by historical working methods used in the pipe making industries, in particular, the steel cages built to reinforce concrete pipes produced for many decades at Pipemakers Park.  

People by Truc

Skinner Reserve, Braybrook Community Hub, Braybrook

Created by TRUC – collaboration between artists Jonathan Leahey and David Burrows, the sculpture is fabricated from two 7-metre tall interlocked, abstracted figures in Corten steel. Mounted on rotational bearings each figure pivots on its central axis in the wind. 

Welcome Bowl by Vicki Couzens, Maree Clark and Jeph Neale

Corner Nicholson Street and Paisely Sreet, Footscray

Wominjeka Tarnuk Yooroom is a collaboration between artists Vicki Couzens, Maree Clark and Jeph Neale. The site specific work comprises 10 large granite boulders to signify the ‘coolamon’ or welcome bowl emerging through the urban landscape, situated at key points across the Paisley Street and Nicholson Street mall junction. 

Pollyanna's Egg by Archinauts

Braybrook Community Hub, Braybrook

Created by Archinaut''s architect duo Jannette Le and Sahra Stoltz - the artwork is based on the true story of a 12-year-old Braybrook resident Trena Telford and her pet goose, Pollyanna reported in the Argus. Carved from recycled timber, raised on a concrete plinth, and features an interior time capsule.  

Meniscus by Cliff Burtt

Sculpture Park , Edgewater Estate

A latin word meaning crescent shaped body, Meniscus is an imposing two piece sculpture inspired by the river and history of the Maribyrnong region.

Two Persons Hugging by Bruce Armstrong

Vipoint Street, Footscray

An early work by renowned sculptor, Bruce Armstrong, known for his large, rough-hewn timber works carved with a chainsaw. Armstrong uses animals and birds in his work which embraces the fantastical, the mythic, the folkloric and the fairytale.

Dream House Sculpture by Frank Veldze

Parker Street Reserve

Created by Frank Veldze, a local artist with a strong reputation in the arts. Dream House is a life-sized replica of a traditional worker’s cottage, and is made entirely from mattress frames. 

With and With Each Other by Tom Bills

NIcholson Steet and Ballarat Road

The 56-tonne, concrete sculpture fabricated by post-war American artist and academic Tom Bills for the Construction in Process VI: The Bridge international arts event in Footscray, in 1998. Fabricated in two halves, it reflects the minimalism movement spearheaded by American Donald Judd. 

Flathead by Les 'Lally' Saunders

Flathead was created by artist Les ‘Lally’ Saunders (Yorta Yorta and Dja-Dja Wurrung Elder) over a 12-month period, with work completed in 2000. The artist collected river stones to incorporate into the artwork which depicts the ancient flathead fish that lived in the Maribyrnong River. Since Lally's passing, his family continue to care for the artwork in partnership with Maribyrnong City Council.

Arch for Reconciliation by Brian Paulusz

Joseph Road Embankment parklands

James Cuming Memorial by Unknown Artist

Yarraville Gardens, Yarraville

Marble bust commissioned by public subscription and carved by Margaret Baskerville (c. 1915-16) in honour of James Cuming, industrialist, Councillor and philanthropist. Erected by the citizens in appreciation of his significant contribution to the community.