Darebin Creek project transforms ugly concrete

Local residents in Thornbury were sick of looking at a large ugly concrete block which marked the entrance to the Darebin Creek track.

It had been dumped during some construction a few years earlier. In 2019 they decided to do something about it. The Friends of Darebin Creek received a small community grant from Darebin Council to involve the community and put mosaics using upcycled materials. We asked people to donate tiles and household ceramics to begin the project. 

Much of 2020 was spent cutting and shaping the donated materials. With persistence we eventually were able to find windows of time to complete the work while adhering to varying public health and essential work restrictions. We had half-day workshops on 28 February 2021 at Darebin Parklands, Gleeson Centre which saw around 12 adults and children make nature-based elements and depict plants and animals from the creek and surrounds. 

Victoria Milne from the Friends of Darebin Creek helped lead the project and came up with the idea of putting the single word "UNLESS" on the top of the block.

"Unless" was uttered by the Once-ler a character in the Dr Seuss book and film The Lorax.  The Once-ler said "unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not."  It serves as reminder that we need to protect our precious natural resources, water, land, trees, plants and animals around the creek. 

Some of the work was completed in the studio, but I find it easier and more rewarding to be on site (depending on the weather). While integrating the elements onto the block, passers-by and locals enthusiastically joined in and supported me with cups of tea, buckets of water and feedback. It's been an organic process.

It's been wonderful to meet some people when on site. Special thanks to Chris, Jess and Mia who can look out their windows and see the installation. They've made a flower, frog and part of the blue sky.