Most People who come to Melbourne for visiting places of tourist’s attraction they visit Great Ocean Drive, Phillip Island, Mount Buller or the Garden Reserves spread all across Melbourne. But very few who have a fascination for sculptures know about William Rickett’s sanctuary. We are living in Melbourne for almost ten years. We live in Ringwood. The great Dandenong valley is about 30 minutes’ drive from our place .The valley has many gardens, lakes, and water falls. But we were not aware of the sanctuary till Shuvro located it on his updated GPS last Sunday.
I have a fascination for pottery from childhood as my mother used to make cooking wares from pottery in our Faridpur house. Moreover, every year in Pohela Boishakh we used to buy lots of earthen wares from fairs. While working in BGSL in Comilla, we used to visit Moinamati especially to see the wonderful works of the potters. While working in different countries I always visit the pottery sections of the museum where it was in Moscow, Doha, Paris, Mexico, Yangon, London or Kyoto. Hence I did not even hesitate when Shuvro offered to visit the sanctuary to see the works of a potter and that of Australian Aboriginal Culture. Let us have a brief about sanctuary.
William Rickett’s Sanctuary
Hidden away in a dense inlet along the winding Mt Dandenong Tourist Road is the internationally renowned William Ricketts Sanctuary. The sanctuary is not only one the Dandenong’s more iconic experiences, but one of the most inspiring and tranquil places on the mountain.
William Ricketts was an Australian potter and sculptor of the arts and crafts movement. Born in Richmond, Victoria, in 1898, William settled permanently in Mount Dandenong, Victoria, in 1934. Although not trained as a potter and never technically superior (his works, large and small, frequently exhibit cracking), the power of his vision of a modern Australia that embraces Aboriginal spirituality and respect for the natural world was his general message throughout his artworks. His major works include the "Dromana" in the Seawinds Garden, Arthurs Seat, Victoria, and "Gun Brute" at the William Ricketts Sanctuary, Mount Dandenong, Victoria. Many smaller works are in the collection of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Photographic records of his sculptures, particularly those from the sanctuaries of Pitchi Ritchi and Mount Dandenong, which have been vandalized, are held in the archives of Australia's libraries. Ricketts, never rich, supported himself through commissioned sales of his art and made pieces as gifts. These signed original small pieces are increasingly sought after for private collections.
From 1949 to 1960 he made frequent trips into Central Australia to live with Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte Aboriginal people, whose traditions and culture inspired his sculpture. He was not an Aboriginal by blood but considered himself adopted by the Pitjantjatjara nation. He left behind many of his central Australian works at Pitchi Ritchi near Alice Springs – a bird sanctuary run by his friend Leo Corbet – as he considered the landscape integral to these sculptures.
A quiet gentleman who had spent much time living with aboriginal communities in central Australia, William Ricketts created the sanctuary as a place for quiet reflection and replenishing the spirit. He believed that all Australians should adopt Aboriginal philosophies, respecting the spirituality of the mother earth and all things in the natural world. Some of his works throughout the grounds also depict his feelings on the takeover and devastation of white man into the natural environment.
Within the sanctuary grounds, there are over 90 different sculptures depicting the aboriginal people engaging with the earth in a pure forest setting. Carved into rocks and tree trunks that dot the paths that flow throughout the property, the themes in his artwork reflect his philosophies of connections with human, nature and the earth.
Though it was not very far but the drive along the slope of the hill was extremely challenging. The path was snaky and required extreme care. We reached the sanctuary drive at about 2PM and had about two hours to view 100 unbelievably wonderfully crated sculptures carved on the trees of the rainforest along the slope of the hill. If you look at them most of them appearing to be talking to you , telling you of their pains from the neglect and torture. They are the originals of Australia the owner of this lovely country according to many the best livable country of the world.
We took some photographs and listened to video presentation. The way Mr Rickett was explaining his experience with great aboriginal communities could make anyone nostalgic. He explained in his own way his driving motive to make this unique creation. He also talked about challenges. Every sculpture is unique in its own way .Everyone represents a special occasion, everyone gives has a language in itself. My knowledge of history got enriched and made my desire of research on Aboriginals of Australia much stronger. Will strongly suggest including a vist to this sanctuary for any visitor who wants to really know about aboriginal culture and heritage of Australia.
On our way back we stopped at a garden opposite to the sanctuary to have afternoon tea and discuss about the sanctuary with the locals.
BDST: 1057 HRS, SEP 25, 2014
