Artwork commemorates rivulet flood

Published on 10 December 2019

Commemorating the May 2018 flood event, and celebrating community resilience, a new public artwork entitled Rain Coming has been installed in Linear Park (near Tara Street) on the banks of the Hobart Rivulet.

The sculpture features an abstract portrayal of a family of black cockatoos flying down the hill and landing in an area where flood levels were at an extreme.

“Many believe that when the black cockatoos fly down from the mountain, it is a sign that rain is on its way,” artist Alex Miles said, explaining her inspiration for the concept.

At the point where the birds are situated, fragments of stories, experiences and reflections from local residents have been inscribed into the existing sandstone paving. Residents impacted by the flood event were invited to contribute to Rain Coming via a public call-out earlier in the year.

“We received some great stories, poems and even music from people of all ages, and highlights of these responses have been incorporated,” Ms Miles said. “The project presented some nice opportunities to connect with South Hobart residents, as well as to work with local fabricators who were affected by the floods.”

The new permanent artwork was commissioned as part of the City of Hobart’s Resilient Hobart program, which is assisting the ongoing flood recovery effort through projects that connect and strengthen the community.

This project has been jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.