PRESS EXAMINER

 

Chips, spark plugs and UFOs: What should Launceston's statement piece be? By Joe Colbrook June 3 2025 - 3:00pm

We all know the importance of making a good first impression, so how should Launceston?

Burnie has its "French fries", Devonport now has a "spark plug" and Hobart has its UFO-shaped fountain at the centre of the Railway Roundabout.

Now, as part of a state government-funded project, Launceston is set to get its own artwork to welcome visitors to the city.

Launceston is set to get a sculpture at the entrance to the city, akin to ones at

Devonport (left inset), Hobart (right inset) and Burnie (lower inset). File pictures, supplied

In a video published by the City of Launceston council, team leader for placemaking Marcus Grantham said the hunt was now on for community ideas and willing artists.

"This artwork is going to be something for our community and for visitors to see as they come down the Southern Outlet as a welcome to Launceston," Mr Grantham said.

"Artists of all abilities can apply it doesn't matter if you're emerging artist or if you're established."

The council says the embankment next to the Midland Highway was chosen as that offered the greatest "sense of arrival" for the 19,000 motorists who entered the city each day.

Burnie City Council completed its gateway piece, "Welcome Gesture" in 2024.

The series of undulating yellow poles, intended by the artists to be reminiscent of a waving hand while also calling back to the local timber industry, were the subject of public derision.

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Partly due to their colour, and also perhaps their proximity to a McDonald's franchise, many residents felt they more closely resembled chips.

The "Welcome Gesture" sculpture at Burnie, near the McDonald's franchise. File picture by Phillip Biggs

Also on the coast, the Devonport council began installing its offering - a series of seven nautically-inspired glass and steel towers - in February 2025.

The first of these has been likened to a spark plug.

Hobart also has its own art welcoming drivers into the city.

Built at the centre of the Railway Roundabout on the Brooker Highway, the fountain often likened to a spacecraft was built in 1963 and restored in 2013.

The fountain at the centre of Hobart's Railway Roundabout had been likened to a UFO. File picture

Once the expressions of interest process for the Launceston sculpture ends on June 6, three artists will be selected to further develop their concepts.

Two of these will be put to a public vote later in 2025, and the finished artwork is due to be complete by the end of 2026.

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Northern Gateway project to welcome Launceston visitors Published on 15 November 2024

The City of Launceston and Department of State Growth are working together to deliver a new public art work on the Midland Highway's entrance to Launceston, dubbed the Northern Gateway project.

The City of Launceston and Department of State Growth are working together to deliver a new public art work on the Midland Highway's entrance to Launceston, dubbed the Northern Gateway project.

As part of the Tasmanian Government's Infrastructure for the 21st Century roads package, funding has been provided to deliver gateway projects in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston.

This weekend a tender will be advertised seeking a contractor to manage the Northern Gateway project, which includes delivering of an Expressions of Interest process for local artists to pitch an artwork for the project.

City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said it was hoped the artwork's design and construction would get underway in 2025, with installation proposed for early 2026.

"This is a really cool initiative from the State Government and something that I'm passionate about," Mayor Garwood said.

"Continuing to hone in on and express Launceston's identity through art and installations.

"The goal of the Northern Gateway project is to deliver a significant public art piece along one of Launceston's most important road corridors, which for many visitors is the main entrance to our city.

"We're going to have a really interesting journey ahead as we explore what our City looks like to artists in built form and I know that we're going to see some creative Tasmanian artists stepping forward to be part of the process.

"Public art can inspire us, challenge us, start conversations, and get us thinking in new ways. "I'm looking forward to watching this project evolve in the months ahead."

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'Interesting journey ahead' as million-dollar art project gets moving By Joe Colbrook November 17 2024 - 3:00pm

A million-dollar project to welcome visitors into Launceston and liven up a nearby highway is getting moving.

The City of Launceston council and the Department of State Growth will collaborate on a public art project to be built at the city's southern entrance on the Midland Highway, with the artwork set to be installed some time in 2026.

Motorists entering Launceston from the south will be welcomed to the city by a new artwork come 2026. File picture by Phillip Biggs

Mayor Matthew Garwood said the Northern Gateway was a "really cool initiative" from the state government, and would help the city "hone in" on its identity.

"We're going to have a really interesting journey ahead as we explore what our city looks like to artists in built form and I know that we're going to see some creative Tasmanian artists stepping forward to be part of the process," Cr Garwood said.

"Public art can inspire us, challenge us, start conversations, and get us thinking in new ways. I'm looking forward to watching this project evolve in the months ahead."

A tender to manage the project was advertised by the council mid-November, with an expressions of interest program for local artists yet to come.

This year's budget included $1 million for the Northern Gateway project, which was funded through the state government's Infrastructure for the 21st Century program.

Launceston was not the only local government area to receive funding through the program, with Hobart and Burnie also benefiting from the grants package.

The 'Welcome Gesture' sculpture at Burnie, also funded by a state government grant, has been likened to French fries. Picture by Phillip Biggs

Burnie City Council commissioned a $1.25 million sculpture named Welcome Gesture, and 24 yellow poles intended to represent a hand greeting visitors to the city were installed mid-2024.

This design was chosen in a poll of residents, and likened to French fries when it was unveiled late 2023.

Launceston's artwork is scheduled to be designed and constructed in 2025, with final installation due the following year.