Baw Baw’s Hidden Treasures uncovered

Published on 28 June 2021

Local art aficionados uncovered almost 200 examples of public art throughout Baw Baw Shire during Council’s Hidden Treasures Hunt.

The hunt encouraged residents to download the Snap Send Solve app and submit photos of public art, with the winner scoring a $100 voucher to restaurant Albert & Smith and a double pass to the West Gippsland Arts Centre show of their choice.

Local brothers Toby and Keegan Just embraced the challenge with an Amazing Race style race through Baw Baw, submitting an impressive 104 photos and nabbing the top prize.

Toby and Keegan explored and discovered artistic treasures in towns from Longwarry to Erica.

“Jindivick was definitely a highlight for us – we didn’t expect to find so many pieces of art in such a rural setting. Nangara Reserve was amazing,” Toby said. 

Council received 314 submissions during the hunt. After removing duplicates and a small number of pieces found to be on private property, 185 pieces of public art were captured.

Submissions ranged from murals and sculptures to art-wrapped electricity boxes, miniature mosaics, carvings, and creative bollards.

The images will be uploaded to the Baw Baw Shire Council website so that residents can use the GPS data to discover artistic treasures across Baw Baw.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss:

“Baw Baw Shire is home to an impressive collection of public art. The images captured covered a huge breadth of work, from the very large, like the Old Steam Train in Yarragon, to the very small, like the frog carvings in Neerim South.

“There were also some unexpected items, like a painted water tank in Thorpdale and carved tree stump in Rokeby.

“Well done to everyone that took part and captured just some of the treasures Baw Baw has to offer.”

 BBSC Cultural Development Officer Karen Whitaker-Taylor with Hidden Treasures Hunt winner Toby Just.